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The Old Tree
Cross-species cooperation helps to save a leafy home in an endearing, pastoral tale that features a final pop-up surprise.
Deep in the forest one morning, Pigeon Post is going about her usual business when she notices a huge X on the trunk of the old tree. All the tree’s residents have a different theory about whom is to blame, until Captain Crow solves the mystery — but can they stop their quarreling before it’s too late? Ruth Brown’s delightful tale of cooperation and conservation, complemented by her luminous illustrations, is sure to engage readers from the start of the story to the wonderful pop-up tree on the final spread.
Deep in the forest one morning, Pigeon Post is going about her usual business when she notices a huge X on the trunk of the old tree. All the tree’s residents have a different theory about whom is to blame, until Captain Crow solves the mystery — but can they stop their quarreling before it’s too late? Ruth Brown’s delightful tale of cooperation and conservation, complemented by her luminous illustrations, is sure to engage readers from the start of the story to the wonderful pop-up tree on the final spread.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2007
72 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Brown
180 books31 followersBorn in 1941, Ruth Brown is the creator of some of Britain's best loved children's books. She has created a great many picture books for Andersen Press and is highly respected as an author and illustrator.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 10, 2013
How could I not have found Ruth Brown before this? After reading A Dark, dark tale, I fell in love with it, and hoped I'd find some more "dark" stories in the Ruth Brown collection. While this isn't dark in any way, it IS, however, a wonderful story with some unusual and completely unique aspects to it. A story about an old tree and its inhabitants, dealing with the fact their tree is about to be torn down, it's probably somewhere between a level 2 and 3 reading level. The story is adorable, the illustrations are so detailed! My 3 yr old twins liked the pictures, but it was a little on the long side to keep them engaged. My 5 yr old, however, loved the book. The personalities of each of the animals made them human-like and more interesting than any other animal characters I've seen in a while. I loved how the magpie said "Darrrrrling" all the time and her propensity for stealing things. Just an overall fun book that's a great addition to any children's collection. I can't wait to read more Ruth Brown!
May 28, 2010
One of my favourite books growing up was A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown. It is mostly pictures, which capture a lot, and there's so much scary atmosphere throughout until the very end, which is adorable. As much as I loved that book, I never thought to look up any other books by Brown. This one I came across at work. See, my division of the Ministry of Education has everything do to with kindergarten, and at our divisional meeting our ADM (Assistant Deputy Minister) read this book aloud to us (it's a wonderful division, I love it there - no one else in the government gets picture books read to them at meetings!!). I borrowed it from him on Friday, but I absolutely have to get my own copy because it's an absolute gem.
One day when Pigeon arrives with the day's mail, she sees a big white X painted on the tree. As she delivers the mail to the tree's inhabitants - to Mrs Rabbit and her brood, to grumpy badger and Mr Squirrel, to Professor Owl and Maggie Magpie and, at the very top of the tree, Captain Crow who keeps watch with his telescope - she asks each of them if they know what the big white X on their tree means. None of them know; they're all too busy complaining about the pair of parakeets who are so noisy. Except, that is, Captain Crow.
Captain Crow has been watching the forest and knows that the trees with white X's painted on them will be chopped down. And, oh no! They can hear chopping noises already! But it's only Mr Woodpecker, cutting a hole in the tree for a new addition to his home.
This gives Pigeon a great idea, one that will get them all working together to save their tree.
This has to be one of the most beautiful picture books I've seen since Shaun Tan's The Red Tree. The illustrations take up the full two pages and are simply stunning, painted with a wealth of detail. As a kid, I could spend hours gazing at an illustration in a picture book, finding all sorts of little things and letting the story live like a play or movie in my head, even when I couldn't read the words for myself. As an adult, I still love spotting all the little details, and also admiring the artistry of the paintings. At the end, the last spread is a glorious pop-up of the entire tree and its inhabitants.
The story itself has a great message, one of cooperation, community spirit and environmentalism. A diverse range of characters live in close proximity to each other, often irritated by one another, but must come together to save their home. It is a great message for children, whether they live in dense, multicultural cities like Toronto and Sydney, or in the country where you could easily ignore your neighbours and become isolated and uncaring. The environmentalism side is clear enough, but the Old Tree also captures the ecosystem, the way everything in nature has its own qualities which work together to create, well, the planet as we know it. There's no need to drum these kinds of messages in; children pick up on them regardless. They're not stupid.
There's delight in the prose as well, which doesn't talk down to kids but helps them become better readers by being just challenging enough:
This is definitely the kind of picture book I'll want my kids to have, and I'll have to keep a look-out for more Ruth Brown.
One day when Pigeon arrives with the day's mail, she sees a big white X painted on the tree. As she delivers the mail to the tree's inhabitants - to Mrs Rabbit and her brood, to grumpy badger and Mr Squirrel, to Professor Owl and Maggie Magpie and, at the very top of the tree, Captain Crow who keeps watch with his telescope - she asks each of them if they know what the big white X on their tree means. None of them know; they're all too busy complaining about the pair of parakeets who are so noisy. Except, that is, Captain Crow.
Captain Crow has been watching the forest and knows that the trees with white X's painted on them will be chopped down. And, oh no! They can hear chopping noises already! But it's only Mr Woodpecker, cutting a hole in the tree for a new addition to his home.
This gives Pigeon a great idea, one that will get them all working together to save their tree.
This has to be one of the most beautiful picture books I've seen since Shaun Tan's The Red Tree. The illustrations take up the full two pages and are simply stunning, painted with a wealth of detail. As a kid, I could spend hours gazing at an illustration in a picture book, finding all sorts of little things and letting the story live like a play or movie in my head, even when I couldn't read the words for myself. As an adult, I still love spotting all the little details, and also admiring the artistry of the paintings. At the end, the last spread is a glorious pop-up of the entire tree and its inhabitants.
The story itself has a great message, one of cooperation, community spirit and environmentalism. A diverse range of characters live in close proximity to each other, often irritated by one another, but must come together to save their home. It is a great message for children, whether they live in dense, multicultural cities like Toronto and Sydney, or in the country where you could easily ignore your neighbours and become isolated and uncaring. The environmentalism side is clear enough, but the Old Tree also captures the ecosystem, the way everything in nature has its own qualities which work together to create, well, the planet as we know it. There's no need to drum these kinds of messages in; children pick up on them regardless. They're not stupid.
There's delight in the prose as well, which doesn't talk down to kids but helps them become better readers by being just challenging enough:
"Good morning, Professor Owl. How are you today?"
"Dreadful," moaned the professor. "I've got an appalling headache because of the screeching of those frightful parakeets, not to mention that remodeling fanatic downstairs."
This is definitely the kind of picture book I'll want my kids to have, and I'll have to keep a look-out for more Ruth Brown.
June 6, 2010
The last pop-up page is particularly beautiful and fun. The story has a compelling environmental message about preserving habitats. And, there is also a terrific message about community and about working together to achieve a worthwhile goal. Most of the illustrations are enjoyable and elaborate. That last pop-up page needs to be handled gently so as not to tear or otherwise ruin it. I hate most of those real life Xs that designate trees for cutting down, and took great delight in how this X is brilliantly hidden.
May 23, 2019
Mike has just begun his summer vacation when he meets Mari, his new next-door neighbor. Mari appears sad; she tells Mike she didn’t want to move.
Mike and Mari soon become friends, though she remains troubled due to her parents’ marriage woes. Soon Mike confides in her. There is a magic tree in the park that opens its trunk. The two friends enter the tree. They meet a talking dog and Joshua, a prince from another kingdom who is trying to defeat the evil creature that is causing trouble in both worlds. The king and his son ask the children if they will help fight the battle. They are trained with magical armor and weapons.
Mike and Mari have many adventures before the day of the final battle dawns. Joshua warns them they must not lose courage, hope or give in to despair. The results of the battle have mixed results, but the children hold on to their faith.
This fantasy story will hold much appeal for advanced beginning and middle-grade readers. The characters are charming, and the plot moves along easily. There is a definite parallel to the Bible and Christian underlying message. Recommended for readers eight and older.
Mike and Mari soon become friends, though she remains troubled due to her parents’ marriage woes. Soon Mike confides in her. There is a magic tree in the park that opens its trunk. The two friends enter the tree. They meet a talking dog and Joshua, a prince from another kingdom who is trying to defeat the evil creature that is causing trouble in both worlds. The king and his son ask the children if they will help fight the battle. They are trained with magical armor and weapons.
Mike and Mari have many adventures before the day of the final battle dawns. Joshua warns them they must not lose courage, hope or give in to despair. The results of the battle have mixed results, but the children hold on to their faith.
This fantasy story will hold much appeal for advanced beginning and middle-grade readers. The characters are charming, and the plot moves along easily. There is a definite parallel to the Bible and Christian underlying message. Recommended for readers eight and older.
October 28, 2017
What a good way to show children the importance of teamwork, and care for nature!
Plus the pop-up tree in the end is spectacular.
Plus the pop-up tree in the end is spectacular.
September 23, 2019
English
o Predictive writing (what the x is for)
o Persuasive writing (stop the people from cutting down the tree).
Science
o Habitats
Geography
o Deforestation
PSHE
o Team-building
o Predictive writing (what the x is for)
o Persuasive writing (stop the people from cutting down the tree).
Science
o Habitats
Geography
o Deforestation
PSHE
o Team-building
October 15, 2010
The pigeon postal carrier visits The Old Tree and progresses up the interior or the tree dropping off mail to all the animals who live there. Mrs. Rabbit, who just had her 17th child, the screeching parakeets, the noisy woodpecker, the learned owl are just some of inhabitants. Colorful illustrations show the way.
At each stop, the pigeon asks about the giant X painted on the tree, but its up to the old Crow sailor on the very top of the tree to figure out what it means, ands all of the animals in their tree house to save it from the ax.
We liked it.
At each stop, the pigeon asks about the giant X painted on the tree, but its up to the old Crow sailor on the very top of the tree to figure out what it means, ands all of the animals in their tree house to save it from the ax.
We liked it.
September 27, 2009
We have a "old tree" that we often wonder about the stories that it would tell - if it could. It is an important stop on "the tour" when someone visits our farm. My 5 year old just loves this story, relating to our "old tree" as we read it. Its a sweet story of coming together and team work. With a nice surprise at the end.
May 13, 2008
The girlie loves this book. We have it from the library and it's the one she picks every night, and I'm pretty sure not only because it's the longest. The illustrations are very pretty and there's a great pop-up at the end.
April 5, 2009
Loved the illustrations and there's a fun pop-up surprise on the last page. I liked the message. There was some discordance among the neighbors, but with a common cause, they worked through a problem that threatened their dear old tree and overcame a prejudice too!
March 20, 2008
Lovely, lovely story about working together to protect a cherished home. The last page is a thrill.
May 8, 2009
Boring until the last page with the pop up.
December 10, 2009
"trees, forest animals, loggers, cooperation, pop-up ending, very cute story but longish"
March 8, 2012
Lovely illustrations; cute "save the tree" story with animal characters; large pop-up on last page.
January 2, 2017
Amazing! I love the pop up picture and, I think I read it one to many times!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews