The Tree

by René Gionta

The Tree is a story of friendship, hope, and determination. In the world of talking animals, something is wrong with their beloved tree. Drought has come to the wood. How will the animals save their tree and their home?

If you listen closely, you might hear the tree speak to you too.

38 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2025

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant, stunningly beautiful story about a beloved tree dying from drought and the forest animals who bring water and save it. The illustrations are so gorgeous they made me gasp with joy. Highly recommended for young readers and the adults who love them.

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about animals working together to save the tree that is their shared home, with beautiful illustrations that are a work of art on their own.

I was just confused about one thing: the illustrations mix together some North American and some European species. If the idea is to impart to child readers a message about a natural habitat being an interdependent system, mixing species from very different geographical locations seems to subtly subvert that idea. Did the North American publisher demand of the (Europe-based) illustrator that the characters be changed to ones more recognizable to North American readers, but the illustrator only had the time to change them in some of the spreads? I am really confused.

Then a meta-commentary on my own reaction outlined above. Of course this is a piece of fiction about talking animals! Somehow I was not as perturbed by the required suspension of disbelief to imagine talking animals in general, or birds of prey cuddling with their prey, as I was by the intermingling of three American (sub)species of squirrels and one European species of squirrel, or showing American robins and Eurasian tree sparrows together.

Really beautiful pictures of them intermingling, though!

Publication date: October 1.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title through NetGalley. The opinion above, biased by years of birding and squirreling on both continents, is entirely my own.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girls saw this book as I was scrolling through Netgalley (like I don’t have enough ARCs already). My 8yr old wanted to read this book. This is my 8yr and 5yr old’s reviews.

8yr old: I liked the tree because all the animals were giving water to the tree and the tree spoke to them. The tree gave them shelter. They helped each other out and lived in harmony. Also they used the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. They looked after each other and when one was sick, they all came together to help. It’s what we should do when a friend or family member isn’t feeling well.

5yr old: I liked all the animals except the toad.I don’t like toads. The owl is pretty.

Thank you to René Gionta, netgalley, Amplify Publishing and Mascot Kids! for this eARC. All thoughts are my girls’ own.

[Katarina]

Thank you Netgalley and Amplify Publishing for an early copy of this book I truly appreciate it.

If you listen closely you might just hear the tree speak.

This is a story about a beloved tree being so dehydrated from the drought during the summer. It a story about animals coming together and saving something that they love and use as shelter. The animals really came together and showed their kindness and they showed how important this tree was to them. I love how the tree spoke to them to let them know that he/she was sick and needed them to do something for them. I love that the animals didn't complain when it came to helping the tree.

This book was cozy and would be a great fall read for some kiddos that enjoy talking animals and trees.

The colours of this story are vibrant and the illustrations are some of my favourites. The animal's have so much detail in them.

I enjoyed this book an I think a lot of kids would like this book as well.

Happy Reading!!!

[Monica Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story and illustrations were beautifully descriptive. It is just the right length for young children to enjoy. The storyline is uncomplicated making it easy to discuss themes about supporting one another through challenges. Though, it involves talking animals, this would be a wonderful book choice for a nature book study related to forest ecosystems or symbiosis. I appreciated the author’s note explaining her inspiration for the story— the large old oak tree.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and publisher for the digital copy of this book.

[maddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc to this ebook! The illustrations were definitely the part that stood out the most in this book. A stunning design that made it both feel familiar and cozy. The story itself was lovely, about a forest community rallying together to save this tree they all needed. without spoiling it, i adored the ending as well. The message of working together, alongside the little bit of added magic, makes this a wonder of a book.

[Cathy Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story about a group of animals working together to save their beloved tree from drought. The illustrations are beautiful and realistic and would keep a young child engaged while the story is read to them. Older early readers will enjoy the art while reading the simple prose themselves. With lessons about teamwork and care for others and the environment, this book would be a great addition to any child's home library or early elementary classroom.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's consternation in the woods, and all the animals connected to the mahoosive oak tree in the middle of the place are worried. They're more worried and confused when the smallest of them, a humble bee called Flower, claims to have heard the tree speak to it. And what the tree said is that it is ailing… This proved to be a really attractive metaphor for the environmental activity, as when more information about the problems the tree has comes to light all the animals dig in and try to save their oaken companion. This is a great way to show the collective spirit of the friendly beasts, and does not present the environmental issue and shove all the worry and burden on the young shoulders of the young reader, as so many books do.

No, this has a lightness and fable quality that makes it easily absorbed as a lesson, while remaining very appealing as a simple story well told. Mostly (but not always) against a crisp white background, the animal characters and the foliage really pop with realistic detail and colour, so while some pages might look a bit wordy to junior eyes this will be easily read. It's actually very cute, all told, so nobody will be put off the important and well-delivered lesson here. Four and a half stars.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, what a beautifully drawn and written children's book!

The art is stunning and I had to read the book twice so I could look at the illustrations and admire them.

This is a heartwarming little piece of literature that will make you all warm, and happy inside. It is a tale of coming together in the face of difficulties, relying on one another, sharing the burdens, and being vulnerable.

Although the audience is targeting children it still hits you how the story is delivered with the deeper messages that are in there.

The writing style is easy to follow, approachable, child-friendly and beautiful.Both the author and the illustrator did an amazing job at delivering the story.

Absolutely recommend it for young and old!

[The Journey Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple yet breathtaking story about friendship among the inhabitants of the Big Oak Tree.

“No one could remember the tree not being there. Not grandmother, or grandfather, or even great-great-great-uncle could remember. The tree had just always been.”

But what happens when the tree is not feeling well?

The book is filled with stunning illustrations of the tree, squirrels, an owl, a bee, a skunk, a raccoon, a frog, and many more—creating a magical display of the natural world.

Thank you @netgalley , @mascotbooks , and @amplifypubgroup for this eARC.

This book review was first published on 1 October 2025 at https://www.instagram.com/thejourney_...

[Emily Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the selection of wildlife and the pictures of the tree. On Amazon, this book says it is intended for ages 4-8, and it's a picture book so that makes it seem like it is for a young audience. However, I read this to my 9-year-old, and some of the vocabulary was too advanced for him. I would say some of the vocabulary was middle chapter book level. Words like weary, rejoiced, commotion, chattered, etc. So, we enjoyed it, but it was a little less smooth of a read than we'd hoped.

[Jourdain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a breathtaking beautiful book. The attention to detail with the artwork paired perfectly with the story. I loved seeing the animals work together to help the tree. It was very informative while also being a very easy read. So glad I read it! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

[Christa Jacimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and heartwarming story and has lovely illustrations. Very enjoyable for any child. And for adults too! Would be a wonderful gift.

[Chantal Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about various animal friends coming together to help a tree in a need. We could all do with a few animal friends when we are in need ❤️