The Child And the Tree: A Tale for Better Times

2024 Skipping Stones Honor Awards

In her morning exploration, a curious child discovers a little tree in the middle of a desert. So begins a tender friendship that finds delight in simplicity and wonder while both the child and tree learn and grow. In an unexpected twist, a storm uncovers parts of the ancient tree that were hidden under the sand. After the child succeeds in planting a new little forest -with the tree's guidance- their sweet adventure comes to an end when the child's family needs to leave.

 A moving ode to natural beauty and the wisdom of our truest nature, this heartwarming story invites us to see the world from a new perspective and from a unique place. Interwoven in the fiction are some facts about the care of trees in unlikely circumstances, revealing an ever-present hope for survival.

 Beautifully depicted in colorful illustrations and lyrical text, social and environmental awareness come together in a story that touches on migration, resilience, forest regeneration, and individual empowerment.

 An ideal book for everyone who loves trees and hopes for better times!

Perfect for fans and frenemies of:

1. The Giving Tree
2. The Lorax

Perfect for fans of:

1. WALL-E
2. Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees and Peter and the Tree Children
3. Sir David Attenborough's Life on Earth series

Great for parents and teachers looking for:

1. children's books about trees and appreciation of nature
2. picture books about children's migration, resilience, and empowerment

A Spanish language version, Alma Semilla, is also available.

FREE downloadable materials include the list 365 Hugs for the Planet, coloring pages, and a teaching guide.