A Tree is a Time Machine

by Rob Sears, Tom Sears (Illustrator)

By the authors of The Biggest Footprint, winner of the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Children's Nature Writing 2022.

Slow down and see the big picture in this warm, witty and beautifully illustrated book for children and adults inviting us to wonder at our precious time on Earth.

You are invited to travel through the ages in the company of a 4,000-year-old yew tree named Eunice, whose perspective on time is very different from our own. Her wisdom will get you why is humanity in such a rush lately? Why does time fly and sometimes drag? And how can the actions of one generation change things for those who follow?

Guiding you on a journey from the extremely long past to the head-spinning present and the unshaped future, Eunice reminds us that in a world that seems to be travelling at warp speed, taking your time is sometimes the best thing you can do. After all, some of the most important things in life can't be sped up.

A Tree is a Time Machine is an antidote to uncertain times, and the perfect gift for anyone who has ever felt like they just want the world to slow down.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Evolution

80 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 11, 2027

About the author

Rob lives and works in Finsbury Park in London with his cat, dog and wife. His books tend to take an irreverent and fun approach to things that we usually talk about with our Serious Voices, such as monstrous world leaders and the environmental omnicrisis we're living through.

His latest work is The Biggest Footprint, an illustrated book that tells the story of humanity's impact on nature through the character of the mega human, a 3km-tall blue giant made out of every human on earth. It's his first book for kids and adults, and aims to give readers a new perspective on the big data about our species.

Previously Rob wrote a series of hit humour books about world leaders, including The Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin Life Coach. His political writing has appeared in McSweeney's, The New Statesman, the Guardian and Index on Censorship magazine, and he is the co-creator of Working for the Big Man, a sitcom for Audible starring Kevin Eldon, Felicity Montagu and Mitch Benn.

Reviews

[Cheyenne Coolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinly a must-read. We really need to slow down and appreciate our planet and the little time we have a lot more. :)

[Lucy Lightning · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intricate picture book following the passage of time through the life of a tree, offering an interesting perspective on human life and how we spend our time.

Giving an alarming wake up call to the life we lead today, and how inventions meant to save time have primarily led to us wasting it.

Beautiful illustrations, with page format changing throughout to suit the tone of the narration, as well as keep younger readers engaged. This book walks the line between story and information, making it a great entry point for introducing non-fiction to little ones.

I personally shed a tear towards the end, and will bet that few reads will be able to keep a dry eye.

A Tree is a Time Machine is definitely worth a read!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Eunice, a 4,000-year-old yew tree. Having witnessed centuries of human history, Eunice has a little advice to share with us, and it comes wrapped in equal parts wisdom, humor, warmth, and gentle snark.

This is a lovely book. The artwork is absolutely stellar and will appeal to readers of all ages, while the storytelling is both immersive and informative. Eunice's observations are thoughtful and often surprisingly moving, encouraging readers to slow down, think beyond themselves, and consider the generations that will come after them.

Because of its length, this may not be the easiest read-aloud, but it is a smart and rewarding book with a powerful message. Listen to Eunice: take care of what you have, make plans for the future, and remember that some of the most important changes happen over long stretches of time.

There are plenty of classroom connections here, including nature, environmental stewardship, climate change, history, and the passage of time. I loved it.

[Jessica Brownlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. Taking you through time from the perspective of a tree, demonstrating just how small we really are. It beautifully shines a light on the rapid impact humans have had on the world and it calls on us to slow down and become more thoughtful. It is truly eye-opening book that challenges you with the shocking reality of our impact, all while interweaving humour seamlessly. Since getting this book a few days ago, I have read it 3 times and cried every. single. time. It is a pretty life-changing book that every child and adult should read. Please read this book!!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and moving meditation on time and how one might spend it, with a nod toward caring for the planet and future humans. I teared up at the end.

EDIT: I’m cataloging it as a picture book so as many kids/families come across it as possible.

[Anna Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a life-changing book. So challenging yet so funny. The illustrations alone are impactful and have so much meaning. Everyone should read this book.

[Iva Cizkova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inkluzivní čtení o čase. Vyznání lásky a popis dnešní doby. Vše podané tak, aby se i malé čtenářstvo na chvíli zastavilo a nadechlo se...

[Anna Mock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not for really little kids - maybe upper elementary or so, and for kids who like to stop and think. It's not an entertaining book, but a thought provoking book.

[Staf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een van de beste prentenboeken die ik ooit heb gelezen, maakte indruk én blijft bij