Within My Branches

by Nicholas Michel, Sarah Ardizzone (Translator)

A beautiful picturebook about all the visitors to a tree’s branches throughout its life

‘I used to be ever so small, hardly as high as a dandelion. Until I grew tall enough to tickle the clouds.’
Telling the life story of a single tree, and of all the creatures that have nestled in its branches, this is a gorgeously illustrated ode to the web of life that connects everything in the natural world.

Genres: Nature, Childrens

64 pages, Hardcover

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gentle and thoughtful picture book telling the story of an oak tree.

Through observations of life within and around the tree the story of the mighty oak is told .

The illustrations are beautiful capturing the majesty of the tree but equally the residents who inhabit its space.

This is a curious book as although the images could be explored with children under 7, the prose has a more magical , slightly metaphorical feel - too subtle for a younger readership. This would be a great key stage 2 text/ picture book through which to explore the natural environment.

As an adult, I was captivated by the gentleness of a book that also has a tinge of melancholy especially in a world that does not always appreciate trees and nature

Nicholas Michel has created a visually stunning book that defies a categorising of readership.

[nerdy.bookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cute read. I loved how we could follow all the way through from an acorn until the tree has lived it's life. I think this book can show kids and even adults, how complex and interesting is nature, and I would gladly recommend this book.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful black and white illustrations with poetic text reveal the life cycle of a tree. So gorgeous, I want a copy for my home library!

[s-m :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genuinely, how is this a kids book!?

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book it's really quite easy to warm to – as an adult; I remain unconvinced a much younger me would have liked it a heck of a lot. Pithily portraying the lot of an oak tree, the left-hand page is a phrase or sentence or two at most of the tree's narration, with very realistic ink drawings on the recto. Together they take us through the life of the oak, and those that visit and live within it, before proving that even after a certain change in status wonders might still be continuing. This is a nice sentiment to close – how we all have hidden virtues and might always do our best at a time we may think of as our worst – but for me the winning aspect is the detail in the art, so wonderfully conveying wildlife through the tiniest detail. But it remains a kind of uncategorisable book – the text doesn't thrust the moral I mentioned at anything like the strength needed to make this an adult gift book, and it isn't really a child-pleaser. It certainly is a pleasurably oddity, mind.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I used to be ever so small, hardly as high as a dandelion. Until I grew tall enough to tickle the clouds.’

This is illustrated in black and white, but the illustrations are worthy of hanging on a wall, they are so beautifully drawn.

This is the story of a tree, who in turn shares his story of his life, and of all those that have kept him company as they perched on his branches. Those who have spent time perched on its branches, a place of a home-like comfort for them, and all those who have spent time burrowing themselves in its branches.

I will be buying a few copies of this one for the two youngest in my family, as they are both budding nature lovers.


Pub Date: 03 Sep 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Pushkin Press / Pushkin Children’s Books

[Tawheeda Rufah Nilima · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Within My Branches' is a picture book that tells the stories of a tree: how a tree becomes the witness of wild and human life, love, sadness, and tragedies of them; the beauty of the sky and wildflowers; how a tree gives shelter to so many of them throughout its life; and then one day the tree is no more a tree; it becomes the timber of the ships that sail for eternity. 

This kind of book can help children to understand the value of trees and how they have this huge impact on every living being. 

I appreciate the effort. But I think a picture book that tells stories of a tree should have colors. This book needs to be colorful. Colours will add life to it.

Thank you, #netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. #WithinMyBranches

2.75 stars!

[Melissa Stordahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely children's book translated from French tells the four hundred and fifty-seven year life story of an oak tree, all the creatures that have visited it and the events it has observed. The illustrations are just magical and the prose poetic, recounting everything from love stories to storms, scars and rebirth. The nameless tree meditates on the circle of life and the inter-connectedness of all the beings in its sights.

'Who was right and who was wrong?
I chose not to take sides:
good and evil have no place
in the tree kingdom.'

I absolutely loved this one, highly recommended.

Thank you so much to Pushkin and Netgalley for this ARC to review!

[Mathangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Within My Branches follows the story of a tree, from when it was a baby sapling, to its zenith years of observing and sheltering other creatures, until its death and mutilation at the hands of humanity.

This book equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking. I do not often think of the life of trees, but this book would serve as a great teacher to young children looking to connect more emphatically with the world around them.

Apart from that, if you're simply looking for a book with brilliant illustrations and good prose, pick this one up!

[Ande Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Within My Branches is a poetic book about the life of a tree & all of the ways that it interacts with the world. I appreciated the simple verses throughout the book, and the illustrations were sweet. It was a great depiction of the web of life and how important a tree is in it.

For me, the tone of the book was a little more melancholy than I would have liked for its subject matter. That being said, it was very heartfelt and some children will probably love it! Thanks to NetGalley, Pushkin Press, and Nicholas Michel for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of "Within My Branches" is based on the life of a tree. Initially small as a dandelion, the tree grows into a giant that tickles the clouds with its branches. Throughout its life, the tree has experienced a lot both from natural happenings and from human hands.

"I've sheltered rain soaked gods."

"Now and then, certain guests proved a bit intrusive."

"I've weathered many storms..."

"I've scattered my offspring to the winds."

"I surrendered the best of my trunk for the keel and stern of a tall ship."

Not only does this book contain beautiful words, but it also has beautiful pictures.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very beautiful story which is told from the viewpoint of an oak tree. We follow the oak trees life, spanning centuries. We meet creatures that live within the branches and find out where the oak trees journey will end.

I enjoyed the black and white illustrations and red text. I would have liked some factual oak tree information in the back pages, some photographs of native types of oak would have been a lovely addition to the story.

[SARAH (thebookish_daydreamer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book; an ode to the life of a tree. I loved that the tree was the narrator. My daughter thought it was a little sad when the tree was cut down but she appreciated that the tree got to go on new adventures as a ship. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. I’d recommend this to nature lovers and introspective hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for a free eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of an old oak tree. It reads like a poem and the black-and-white pictures are beautiful; however, I don't think this would appeal to children. It's kind of depressing and the concepts seem like they would go over their heads (e.g., at one point it refers to displaying the wounds of a jealous lover).

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful picturebook but also, very poignant.
The illustrations are very interesting, as well as the story of a tree told by the tree itself, as it encounters various guests and tribulations throughout its life cycle.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

[periwynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful short story about a life of an old tree, told from its perspective. It is very atmospheric and has that calm feeling to it. But it didn't quite strike me as a children's book because of the intricate black and white ink illustrations. I see it more as a little piece of art to have in your home library to look at every so often, for children and adults alike to enjoy.

(I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.)

[Mary Argetsvell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming picture book, full of beautiful art and prose. It would definitely be a struggle for a young child to read on their own, but a gorgeous book to sit and got through with your child. Following the life of tree from seedling to timber used to build a ship, this tree sees critters from all walks of life which is reflected in the illustrations.

This is absolutely a book I would enjoy reading with any future children I may have, though once again, perhaps when they're a little older.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

[Jessie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the whole story, it really is a great. The flow and timeline run smoothly throughout each page. The illustrations bring it all together nicely. It faintly resembles that of the Giving Tree with its own twist. A classic to put on the shelf

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book, a poetic Andersen-esque life story of a tree growing from an acorn to ship beams.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a work of art. The writing is beautiful and the illustration is just breathtaking.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The life of a tree, from acorn to a life refashioned as planks of a ship. Reminiscent at the end, of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. Would work well in a classroom writing assignment, following the life of an acorn or other item in nature, to its end.

Themes: nature/environment
Ages: preK-3rd+ grade
Pub year: 2022

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing to know about Within My Branches, detailing the long life of a tree as narrated by the tree itself, is that the illustrations alone make the book a no-brainer purchase/gift. The drawings are absolutely beautiful: sharp, expressive, detailed, just gorgeous to look at. They also do what illustrations should in a picture book, carry forward the story beyond the words. So I’d highly recommend this even if you never read the words to your child or they never read them

As for the text itself, it’s a softly, often poetic style that is generally simply in vocabulary but not in meaning. There’s a nice cadence to it. It’s not a chipper or lively text in style or tone. There are moments of beauty and joy and some wry humor (speaking to how some visitors are “intrusive” with the image of a woodpecker), but also a poignancy, an acknowledgement of the cycle of life. This holds true as well for the tree and not just the world it observes, since at the end it is transformed. Some children may find this sad or disturbing, but it’s not presented as such, and the gentle acceptance of life changing/time passing/transformation is not a bad lesson.

Overall, a lovely, thoughtful meshing of art and language and highly recommended

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful - a bit bleak