Our Tree

by Jessica Meserve

For readers ages 3-7, this is a stunningly illustrated celebration of tolerance, togetherness, and the power of community.

Little Red is delighted when he discovers a beautiful tree--and he wants to keep it all to himself! But he soon realizes he is not alone in the tree. Birds stop by to rest on its branches during a long flight. An elephant uses the tree's rough bark to scratch its back. And with all of the other animals, bugs, and birds that call the tree home, it's just too noisy for Little Red! He decides to set out to find ANOTHER tree, just for himself--but when he has a scary run-in with a leopard, Little Red learns the value of sharing, community, tolerance, and friends who have your back.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Nature

Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Jessica Meserve is the illustrator of all the Daisy Dawson books. She is also an author and illustrator of several picture books.

"I received my BA and Ma in Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. After leaving college, I worked for four years in publishing as a Children’s book designer. One spring day in 2001 I woke up ready for change. I finally took the plunge and quit my job to pursue my true passion of children’s illustration. Small was the first book I both wrote and illustrated.”

Since then she has published several books, moved between the UK, Canada and the US and has now settled in the UK with her family. She recently studied for an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art where she rediscovered her love of painting and pursued her passion for picture books.

What Clara Saw, will be published by Macmillan in April 2019.

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Red Squirrel climbs up in the tree and announces that it is HIS tree. The tree gently asks him to look behind… and there are a number of insects. This doesn’t make the squirrel happy, and he is even angrier to find a number of swifts also nesting in the tree. It’s too loud and crowded! When an elephant further irritates Red Squirrel by rubbing his back on the bark, he’s had it, and announces that he is leaving to find a tree he doesn’t have to share. Of course, he falls out of the tree… right onto a leopard! The leopard bounds into the tree after our irritable friend, who is saved by the combined effort of all of the tree’s inhabitants. This softens Red Squirrel’s opinions of community (since it now benefits him!), and he decides to stay.

Red Squirrel has the personality of an irascible fourth grader who wants to be ALONE, and wants everyone to be quiet, which contrasts nicely with the tree's calm and quiet demeanor. There is so much activity in the tree, and this is a great book to use for counting or for searching for something in the busy illustrations.

I was ridiculously bothered by the fact that the squirrel existed in the same habitat as an elephant and a leopard, but young readers might not have the same objection to including animals from different regions for the sake of a good story.

This is a pleasing book about community that should go over well with fans of Hasler and Wald’s Sloth’s Tree House Inn, Offsay’s The Quiet Forest, Wheeler’s A Cozy Winter’s Day, or Perkins’ Wintercake. It’s also a good choice for readers who just enjoy reading a cute squirrel tale like Ryland’s Have You Seen My Acorn, Nass’ Fix and Stitch, Rosen’s I Am Hungry, or Isern’s Squirrel Has Trouble Saying No.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyes on trees and cute woodland animals, birds, and bugs? Yes, please!

Little Red is an enthusiastic squirrel who is thrilled to discover Tree and claim it as his own. Little Red wants to use the leaves for swishing, but the caterpillar uses them as food. Little Red wants to bounce on its branches, but Swift uses them for resting. Each time Little Red says something on Tree is all his, Tree says “I’m not so sure about that! Look behind you!” It turns out lots of other creatures big and small use Tree, as well. Little Red is frustrated about having to share and says “Together is too busy, too noisy, and there isn’t space for anyone else!” But Tree is gentle, encouraging, and welcoming, constantly reminding Little Red that there’s space for everyone. Then a Leopard comes into the tree and says, “This tree is for ME! And so are all the animals in it!” Little Red then leads all the other creatures in expelling Leopard from the tree. Little Red now agrees that “Tree is for everyone.” 

The illustrations are detailed and STUNNING. I swear you’ll gasp in delight! Little Red’s facial expressions change throughout the story from joy to confusion to disappointment to fear and back to joy again. The animals actually dance in delight when they work together to get rid of the Leopard (the dancing frogs are my favorite). Little Red and his new friend, a gray squirrel, leap together near a branch that curls into a heart. Tree and Little Red gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes, nose to nose!!! This book is special and will be fun to read. I found the illustrations and message absolutely delightful. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Little Red, a squirrel, finds just the right place to hang out, he isn't exactly thrilled to share the place, a mighty Tree, with a caterpillar, swifts or an elephant, each of whom also find Tree to be ideal landing spots for them as well. As more and more animals arrive, Little Red decides to find a new spot, but he lands on someone who can easily gobble him up. As the squirrel scampers to safety, the leopard follows him. But the other animals come to Little Red's defense, scaring the leopard away. The messages of community and sharing spaces with others as well as working together even against long odds ring loudly and clearly here. The softly colored illustrations spotlight Tree with its wide-spreading, welcoming limbs and a host of animals. Little Red's possessiveness about the tree is laughable but also relatable, especially for young children whose favorite word often is "MINE!"

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selfish squirrel learns the value of sharing with help from a wise old tree and all the creatures that live among its branches. Yet if this is truly an inclusive community, why must leopard go hungry? The idiosyncratic typeface, with oddly shaped letters and willy-nilly capitalization, might make the story a little hard to read, especially for those just learning their letters. Busy illustrations.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red squirrel learns that what he thinks his his tree is really a home and shelter for many creatures. Good illustrations illustrating lots of creatures that live among the leaves.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book about community.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

tough for regular ST because the illustrations are busy and kind of small. nice story, though, and would be good in a one-on-one or small group.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching picture book about nature and also the power of community.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be shared in a class . A nice story of being in community.