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At his grandparent's house, Little Tree learns how to "talk- the animals' language and care for them. He learns about the beauty and importance of Mother Nature and how to work the land "including the ancient secrets on how to obtain the best results for a good crop. He was lucky to be a part of the Nature, as Nature will always be there for him, when people won't: " as long as I live I could always come home to them [the trees, the birds, the waters, the rain and the wind], where other children would find their parents gone and would feel lonesome; but I would never be- (144). .
His grandparents shape his life, and he develops a beautiful, strong and healthy personality. Little Tree will, one day, grow into a "Big Tree,"" lucky to have a great heritage and family who truly cares for him. He is a lucky child whose life is sheltered when he needs it most "right after his parent's death. The reader laughs and cries with the little boy, happy to see that he's cared for, so he can grow strong and healthy from a "Little Tree- to a mature one. .
Little Tree also learns right from wrong. He also learns first hand about the hypocrisy and essential duplicity of man, and how the white man stole the land of his ancestors; also how the Indian people were forced to leave their homeland and move away. Some of them refused to leave and hid in the mountains. But most importantly, he is taught to respect nature. " The Indian never fishes or hunts for sport, only for food .Only the white man always takes more than he needs!', says his white grandfather who has turned his back on his own heritage to learn the ways of native Indians- (107). .
Little Tree will learn to respect Mother Nature and its true spirit "which talks to the Indian people "as he would respect a human being. Mother Nature was the one that helped them survive through difficult times. She was the protector of the ones who embraced her laws.
