On a misty morning, we look across the top of the forest to see where our tree stands tall above the canopy. It is the tallest of the trees in this forest.

This tree is older than those who find it,

Younger than the land that it grows from.

As we listen, the leaves ‘bustle’. We can smell the air of the forest, the tree breathing in the air that we breathe out. We travel down to its roots where it shares food, ‘sending stories through the soil where worms stretch’.

Nearby, a blue-tongued lizard basks in the sunshine and an echidna noses under a log.

A rainstorm begins as we hold out our hands to catch the drops. Birds circle our tree, spiralling upward. As night descends bright eyes appear in the surrounding forest.

This is such a cleverly written book. Although I think it requires a slightly older reader to get the most from the experience of imaginings, seeing in our mind’s eye our tree and the forest around.

In the hands of experienced illustrator, Jess Racklyeft, the imagery is beautiful, soft and subtle, yet with enough space to encourage us to look for the creatures mentioned.

Tree is a large picture book, with fold-out pages so we feel the huge size of our wonderful tree. It’s an invitation to take a walk in the forest to see our tree. A journey I hope many readers will take.

Reviewed by Emily Ross

Age Guide 5+

Teachers’ Resource – Tree by Claire Saxby

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Claire Saxby was born in Melbourne, moved to Newcastle as a toddler and to Bougainville Island in PNG when she was ten. She attended many schools around Australia before studying in Melbourne to become a podiatrist. For several years Claire worked in community health while simultaneously writing for children. Her books fall into three main categories: our wonderful world, history and humour. Claire’s work has won several awards including CBCA Picture Book of the Year, CBCA Honour Book, a NSW Premier’s Literary Award, a SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, an Environment Award for Children’s Literature, an Educational Publishing Award and the Whitley Award multiple times. She is widely curious about just about everything and passionate about encouraging curiosity and wonder. www.clairesaxby.com

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR