I have a major soft spot in my heart for picture books about trees and tree houses. As a child I had a favorite cherry tree in our yard that I named Cheryl. I was often up in her lofty branches and it felt like I was in my own magical world. I would go there to escape when I was upset, needed to think, or just wanted some ethereal quiet. As I’ve gone through life I’ve learned that I am not the only one who felt/feels that connection with trees. It is fascinating to me how many people have at some point in there life or another sought solace at the foot of a tree or up in one. This list is for all of you who have ever called a tree a “friend” and for those of you who value their important role in our ecosystem. I hope you enjoy and I will add to this list in the future when I find more “tree” books that I treasure.
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“Everything You Need For a Treehouse” by Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes- This book was one of my most anticipated new releases this year and it did not disappoint. The illustrations are full of magical and gorgeously detailed tree houses and the text is poetic, dreamy and a bit abstract.
“Up In The Leaves: The True Story of the Central Park Tree Houses” by Shira Boss and Jamey Christoph- This book is based on the true story of a little boy who grew up building tree houses in central park every year because of his love for simply being in the trees. Later in life he got a job in the park working with the trees.
“The Things That I LOVE About Trees” by Chris Butterworth and Charlotte Voake- This book takes you through all four seasons with trees and is a collection of lovely short poems. It is a pure delight to read and beautifully illustrated.
“Sylvia Rose and the Cherry Tree” by Sandy Shapiro-Hurt and Xindi Yan- In this story little Syvlia and all the forest animals are good friends with a ginormous cherry tree. The tree has a big case of wanderlust that leads to it traveling the world with Sylvia until it is ready to go back home where it is the happiest. The illustrations are bold and stunning and the story is darling.
“Big Tree Down!” by Laurie Lawlor and David Gordon- “Big Tree” is the oldest, and perhaps most beloved, neighbor in the community in this story. However, one day a big storm brings it crashing down and the whole community mourns it loss. The beautiful part is the use they find in what the tree left behind, how they honor it’s memory and that they plant a new tree in it’s place. This is a good one to explain the impact even just one tree can make on a community.
“The Forever Tree” by Tereasa Surratt and Donna Lukas- This story is based on the true story of tree that was very important to a family, but in time the father passed away and shortly thereafter the tree contracted a fatal disease. In efforts to preserve the tree as a tribute to the memory of the father the tree was built into a tree house. It is such a sweet story of love, loss and the things that never die.
Peter and the Tree Children by Peter Wohlleben and Cale Atkinson – In this beautiful story we learn a bit about forestry and “tree families” as Peter takes his new squirrel friend on a walk through the forest. It’s beautifully done.
Trees Make Perfect Pets by Paul Czajak and Cathy Gendron- This is the sweetest story about a little girl who picks a tree to be her pet, and, of course, it makes the perfect pet. Such a lovely celebration of the connection people can have with trees.
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