A plea to recognize and enjoy the beauty of the natural world.
By Jodi Dee ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2023
A tree yearns for human connection in Dee’s picture book. The sapling, planted in the late 1700s, desires to be in the presence of all living creatures, yet humans are the only ones who do not stop and sit with it. The tree repeatedly asks, “Will you sit with us?”, to which an older voice of the forest responds, “They are busy, Young One.”
As the humans go about their own business, the tree grows increasingly frustrated. The forest is eventually cleared away for farmland, a city, and a futuristic megalopolis, leaving the tree standing alone. Finally, a human family in space suits approaches the tree and sits with it, gathering its seeds and offering hope for the future. Dee and Oldaker’s illustrations capture the beauty of the natural world, even as it is diminished in each spread. The powerful images and the tree’s repeated plea effectively convey the importance of connecting with nature.
Check on Walmart Check on Barnes and Noble Check on PowellsPub Date: March 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781736209325
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023