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The Tree
Not yet published
Expected 1 Feb 26This is the story of a cow, a duck and a very big tree.
At first the cow and the duck are happy with their mooberries and mushquacks, living side-by-side without even noticing. But then a big storm comes…
Cow and Duck set out to protect their tree from one another and in doing so destroy everything they have. Can they live together and work together to rebuild, and can they learn to share?
At first the cow and the duck are happy with their mooberries and mushquacks, living side-by-side without even noticing. But then a big storm comes…
Cow and Duck set out to protect their tree from one another and in doing so destroy everything they have. Can they live together and work together to rebuild, and can they learn to share?
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
Audible Audio
Expected publication February 1, 2026
1 person is currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Graeme Base
70 books369 followersGraeme Rowland Base is a British-Australian author and artist of picture books. He is perhaps best known for his second book, Animalia published in 1986, and third book The Eleventh Hour which was released in 1989.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 15, 2021
Graeme Base is the master of illustrations that brings alive every story and tale. “The Tree” is another gallery of true artworks that presents us with pages of visual stimulations and banquets of masterpieces. Four-year-old little-AJ likes the book but doesn’t feel much about the story. I personally think the book beautiful in so many layers, and I silently suspect this is a book for the adults reading to the kids, disguised in the form of “preschool” book in few words.
This is a story about a cow, a duck, and a very big tree. It’s a strange story where a cow (a lover of “mooberies”) chose to reside at the top of the tree in an elaborately built castle with drawbridge and turrets. The duck loved his secret hideout beneath the tree where he got to enjoy “Mushquacks” amongst the roots. Both unaware or oblivious to each other’s presence, till a storm changes the fate of the two occupants of the same tree.
Each suspicious of each other, with zero trust, full of paranoia and unfounded imaginations, the cow and the duck started sabotaging the tree, each set up their defence mechanism and prepared to attack. Then came another storm, and gone was the tree. The ending was a sweet and happy ending of trust, working together, new life, new tree, and new friends where all doors are kept opened.
Illustrations wise, they are as usually, stunning, heart-warning, full of emotions, perfect in the changes of colours to suit mood and atmosphere of each scene. But it is the story that makes me pause and ponder. The storyline is straightforward, succinct, and short. It is opened for each reader to interpret, to conclude, and to draw messages from the texts.
Perhaps, there is really no “hidden” message underneath the simple words. Or perhaps, there are some deeper meanings within? Is the writer trying to draw analogy to the Mother Earth and its dwellers? Or are we talking about the suspicions that people generally have towards “newcomers” to the land? Is a natural disaster the common way to bring people together to work towards a goal? Too many unknowns, yet so many possibilities. I think this book is a true keeper, and who knows, in another few years time, we might view the story from a completely different perspective.
https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.com
This is a story about a cow, a duck, and a very big tree. It’s a strange story where a cow (a lover of “mooberies”) chose to reside at the top of the tree in an elaborately built castle with drawbridge and turrets. The duck loved his secret hideout beneath the tree where he got to enjoy “Mushquacks” amongst the roots. Both unaware or oblivious to each other’s presence, till a storm changes the fate of the two occupants of the same tree.
Each suspicious of each other, with zero trust, full of paranoia and unfounded imaginations, the cow and the duck started sabotaging the tree, each set up their defence mechanism and prepared to attack. Then came another storm, and gone was the tree. The ending was a sweet and happy ending of trust, working together, new life, new tree, and new friends where all doors are kept opened.
Illustrations wise, they are as usually, stunning, heart-warning, full of emotions, perfect in the changes of colours to suit mood and atmosphere of each scene. But it is the story that makes me pause and ponder. The storyline is straightforward, succinct, and short. It is opened for each reader to interpret, to conclude, and to draw messages from the texts.
Perhaps, there is really no “hidden” message underneath the simple words. Or perhaps, there are some deeper meanings within? Is the writer trying to draw analogy to the Mother Earth and its dwellers? Or are we talking about the suspicions that people generally have towards “newcomers” to the land? Is a natural disaster the common way to bring people together to work towards a goal? Too many unknowns, yet so many possibilities. I think this book is a true keeper, and who knows, in another few years time, we might view the story from a completely different perspective.
https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.com
October 12, 2021
Author and Illustrator: Graeme Base
Age Recommendation: Pre-School/Kinder
Art Style: Bright and pseudo-realistic
Topic/ Theme: Sharing
Setting: Ambiguous Earth
Graeme Base is one of those legendary Australian authors whom every Australian child was exposed to early on, mostly through Animalia others through one of his many other works. When he releases a new book I will usually borrow it just to see what he's doing now. This is as cute as I would have expected. The characters are as adorable as you would expect and with a degree of life to them that I always appreciate. It is to do with the colour choices, shading and detail in the scales, fur and feathers.
The story is simple enough. Using two friends, a duck and a cow dividing up a tree and forgetting their friendship until tragedy strikes. It's a plot that we've seen before in picture story books but the beauty in the art makes this re-readable at different ages. There is an animal to find on every page, the panda. Which I will admit I did not find on every page. Also, do you know how hard it is to find books with red pandas in them? Look inherited my Mother's obsession okay. I recommend this partially because it is lovely and I think there is a reason so many people love Graeme Base. His art is stunning and every time you read it you will see more.
November 11, 2020
Every Graeme Base book is a must-buy for the artwork alone, and The Tree is no exception. The illustrations are beautiful, with gorgeous depth to keep the reader entranced. Where the books vary is in the quality of the story. This receives 4 stars due to the overall tone and message that is being communicated. It is prevented from being a 5 star book as I just felt like I wanted more. I don't know if Graeme was constrained by the short-form picture book format, or if it was his deliberate choice, but I just felt the story needed more depth. More time exploring Cow & Duck's selfishness and paranoia, more time then looking at how they could work together etc. I'd also have loved some author's notes. Why did he choose Cow & Duck? Is there any significance in those choices? Why a castle? There is one strange, hidden creature that appears to be hiding on many pages. Is it on all the pages? Are there more hidden gems? etc.
November 3, 2020
From the author of the incredibly popular and internationally acclaimed book, Animalia, comes a new children’s book about a very big tree, Cow and a Duck. Both Cow and Duck are happy in their own separate areas of the tree but they are thrown together when a big storm comes along and uproots the tree.
The first thing you notice when you open up this glossy book is the beautiful dark green colour and the illustrations of Cow and Duck, the this amazing large tree on the first illustrated page. This book is very shiny with glossy, bright white pages and the illustrations are sharply draw to pop off the page. I love the emotion drawn into Cow’s eyes on the second page, made so prominent with those big blue eyes framed by thick lashes and the softness of her fur.
Read the rest of my review here!
The first thing you notice when you open up this glossy book is the beautiful dark green colour and the illustrations of Cow and Duck, the this amazing large tree on the first illustrated page. This book is very shiny with glossy, bright white pages and the illustrations are sharply draw to pop off the page. I love the emotion drawn into Cow’s eyes on the second page, made so prominent with those big blue eyes framed by thick lashes and the softness of her fur.
Read the rest of my review here!
December 2, 2020
The Tree is a visual feast that belies the simplicity of the text. Cow and Duck’s tree not only housed them but was home to a myriad of animals juxtaposed to represent all continents of the world. Their story suggests the need to look beyond our own closeted existences at those around us and examine our communities and our reliance on one another in times of adversity. The Tree, like mother earth, is a mighty and generous provider but it cannot withstand fear and ignorance indefinitely. With patience, understanding and time, nature repairs and like the tree of life, strength and beauty restored.
The Tree is a story steeped with mood, comedy and a deep appreciation for the natural environment both joyful to read aloud or absorb quietly by oneself.
Read my full review at #DIMSreVIEWS: https://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com/2...
The Tree is a story steeped with mood, comedy and a deep appreciation for the natural environment both joyful to read aloud or absorb quietly by oneself.
Read my full review at #DIMSreVIEWS: https://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com/2...
March 17, 2021
Darker than many of his previous books but still beautifully (and subtly) illustrated. Could have done with two more pages linking the activities between storms to the outcome of the second storm. [Not a spoiler.]
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April 16, 2024Hm. So I didn’t rate this that much cause I didn’t think the cow looked like a cow. Called blueberries something else etc etc. but Alessio loved it and kept wanting to go back and talk about what he saw - so maybe author knew what he was doing and who his target audience was
July 13, 2024
Base Jump #19
Base at his finest in beautifully illustrated book and with a great yarn with a challenge to be accepting of each other, and leave the door open.
Well written, the illustrations bring it home.
Base at his finest in beautifully illustrated book and with a great yarn with a challenge to be accepting of each other, and leave the door open.
Well written, the illustrations bring it home.
March 3, 2021
Very cute. Love the illustrations and having to find the panda bear like “Where’s Wally”.
September 19, 2021
This was one of tonight's goodnight stories. I'm a fan of Graeme Base and the child like stories with animals. Of course we enjoyed it.
November 17, 2023
Thoughtful reading, lovely illustrations.
January 3, 2024
The quality of story and art was not as high as his previous books.
December 30, 2020
I could look at Graeme Base's artwork all day and this is no exception. A glorious story of what can be achieved if you work together rather than separately.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews