Joy

Invisible Tree

by Kirrily Lowe

The Invisible Tree is a series of charmingly illustrated books seeking to impart great values to little people. Based on Galatians 5:22-23, The Invisible Tree is all about character traits that we all love, growing on the inside of our kids.

"I've lost my joy where could it be?"

Come with our little girl on a search to find her "Joy". Is it under the apple tree, is it out to sea, or is it in something that we cannot see? A message for little ones and big ones - where do we go to find joy when we have lost it.

Genres: Christian, Childrens

24 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

Kirrily Lowe is the author of The Invisible Tree series of children's books - a delightful and fun series seeking to capture great and timeless values for little ones.

Kirrily began her career as a lawyer working with children in Sydney’s Western Suburbs.

She is now the pastor together with her husband Tim of C3 City Campus - a dynamic and creative congregation in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

Kirrily began writing in 2010 whilst at home with her young children.

Kirrily lives in the northern suburbs of Sydney with Tim and her 3 young and lively boys.

Reviews

[Narelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joy is the second book in the Invisible Tree series. BelBel has lost her joy and she is searching everywhere to find it again. The story has a lovely message that our joy comes from God’s love for us. I liked the ‘Invisible Tree’ analogy and thought it was an interesting way to explain to younger children how God’s spirit can live inside us.

The illustrations are eye catching and the text is presented as if the words and phrases were cut out of magazines or newspapers and pasted on the page. The result is colourful and could help children identify key words in the sentences. I recommend this book to parents and carers who are looking for a fun and educational book to read with their Preschoolers.

Many thanks to Wombat Books for providing a review copy.

[Omega Writers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four reviews from our CALEB reviewers:

(1)
Kirrily Lowe’s colourful children’s book Joy is part of the series The Invisible Tree and is the story of a little girl who has lost her joy – her happiness. She searched under her bed, under the apple tree, in the outback, out to sea and many other places. Then she found that when she lived God’s way and cultivated an invisible tree inside herself that produced the fruit of the Spirit – love – peace – kindness – goodness – faithfulness – gentleness and self control, joy was there inside all the time. The search was over.

Joy should appeal to pre-schoolers as well as five and six year old girls. There are bright and cheerful illustrations on every page to complement the narrative. DS

(2)
Henry Smith’s illustrations are the hero of this charming little book. The colourful mixed media collages are filled with interest and humour. The story is aimed at pre-school children.
A little girl wakes up one morning to find her joy has gone. She looks for it in all sorts of places, orchards, the bush and the sea. She longs for her joy and concludes that it might be found in choices even on grey days; inside us and activated by God’s love.
I am sure Kirrily’s series of books about the Fruit of the Spirit will help children to understand this spiritual truth. LS

(3)

Introducing the Fruits of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23), Joy by Kirrily Lowe is one of the titles in The Invisible Tree series.

BelBel has lost her Joy and sets out in search of it.

A hard cover picture book with interesting illustrations by Henry Smith, Joy is suitable for young readers and could be used by youth ministry as a springboard for discussion on the Fruits of the Spirit. KL

(4)
The author and illustrator combine to clearly portray the presence of Joy in the readers' lives, using the unique format of an invisible tree.
Volunteer reviewer - Bookseller's Prize section of CALEB Awards

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joy is the second in The Invisible Tree series by Kirrily Lowe. The series is based on the fruit of the Spirit.

From the introduction: “There is an invisible tree that lives inside of me. It wants to grow big and tall even though I am very small.”

The book asks the question, where is my joy? It becomes clear that joy isn’t like other things that we can’t find. The message subtly points towards God without being intense. I also like the gentle rhyming.

Henry Smith has done a great job of designing pictures and fonts to fit the message and style of the book.

Thanks to Wombat Books for providing a free book for review.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly enchanting book with delightfully different collage-like illustrations. The little girl of the story has lost her joy - she searches in the bush, in a secret land of dreams, out to sea; hopes it might come with a prince on bended knee. But it turns out it grows (like a mango) on an invisible tree of the Spirit.

[R.J. Rodda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the message in this book - joy comes from God and we keep it when we walk his way. This is a simple story aimed at young children featuring a girl who has lost her joy. The collage type illustrations are interesting and unique.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful picture book by Kirrily Lowe and illustrated by Henry Smith. Joy is part of the Invisible Tree series which all start with "There is an Invisible Tree That lives inside of Me, It wants to grow Big and Tall, Even though I am very small." And each deals with a different aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.

Joy is first person, in the voice of the child. It starts "I've Lost my Joy. Where could it be?" which leads into a search in different places before exploring ideas that don't depend on circumstances. The rhyme is light and lilting without being trite. And, as with Love, the book is delightfully illustrated. Henry Smith uses recycled materials to give a textured and layered look.

[Lara Bate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of a person who loses their joy and looks for it. They discover that it lives inside them.