The Tree Watcher

by Christopher P. Stanley

This story draws inspiration from the author taking his son, Samuel, on a walk to the park.  He noticed how amazed Samuel was at everything there was to see - especially the trees that towered above him.  With artwork depicting these trees that forged such awe in young Samuel's eyes, "The Tree Watcher"  beautifully takes the reader along on this wonder-inducing walk.

34 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2015

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The simplest things, the things around us, the things we fail to truly notice as adults when we lose our sense of wonder at the world become a bonding moment for a father and son. The majesty of trees, as seen from the ground, the opportunity to realize all they truly are, the rustling of their leaves, the opening arms of their branches, the quiet giants who stand tall around us, all seen through the eyes of a child is magical. The eyes of the father are re-opened to the mysteries of the lives these trees have seen.

Christopher P. Stanley has taken the beauty of the world he shared h his son and created a wonderfully illustrated book to be shared by families, read to younger children and used as a starting block for discovering more of the hidden beauty that we come across every day. Enter this magically world and re-discover that feeling of awe through the eyes of a child.

The Tree Watcher is the perfect bedtime tale, rich with beautiful drawings, thoughts and sharing that bring us all closer to the amazing planet we live on.

I won this copy in an awesome Giveaway!

Publisher: Jump Splash
Publication Date: December 4, 2015
ISBN-10: 0997042044
ISBN-13: 978-0997042047
Genre: Children's Fiction
Paperback: 32 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story captured my attention from the very start because the pictures are amazing. They are done in an almost dream-like quality that really make me feel like I was lying on the ground, staring up at a tree on a lazy day.

The book is shown through the viewpoint of a child and how he must see the world around him, especially this big tree. It took me back to a time when I was small and the world was so big--I wondered about so many things.

I love the nostalgia that is incorporated in these pages, as well as the concept of time and seasons. This is a great book to enjoy with a child, or just by yourself.

*I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

[Aviva Gittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tree Watcher, written and illustrated by Christopher P. Stanley, is a celebration of trees and, in a sense, the passing of time that they mark. Many of us walk past trees all the time. See them towering outside a window or flickering past us on the way to work. But, like many things in life, we take them for granted — until we see them anew through the eyes of a child. Inspired by his son Sam, Mr. Stanley’s simple, gentle story is of a parent introducing a toddler to the magic of trees. The mammoth size of some; the generations of people and change they have witnessed; the beauty they bring to the seasons. Mr. Stanley’s illustrations are wondrous. Wispy and ethereal. If I’m waxing a bit poetic, it’s because reading the story makes me feel that way. As if I’ve rediscovered something and want to share it with my grandchildren. Take a walk in the park with your little one, find a big shady tree, and read The Tree Watcher together. Note: Available in hardcover and paperback. (I can’t wait for my hardcover copy to arrive!)

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start by saying that this book really touched my heart. As a mother, I have always prided myself on pointing out the beauties in nature to both my boys. Whether it was a beautiful sky, a unusual bug, the night sky or one of my beloved wonders in nature...a strong, large, stretching tree. Living in Wisconsin we get the pleasure to see a tree grow and chance through the seasons. The Tree Watcher follows a young boy and his father has they walk in the park and the subsequent wonder he see in his son's eyes as he marvels at the trees that tower overhead. I have read and reread this book many times. I find it equally as beautiful every time. It is poetic and sweet, tender and loving, embracing all the wonder of both a parents love for their child and the pure unadulterated joy a child experiences in the simple joys in nature. The illustrations are stunning, watercolor mixed with realistic images blended together beautifully. I adore this book and rate it 5 stars

Classroom uses: I plan to use it in my Art Through Stories class and have the kids make a water color trees, as well as a scene of the trees through the seasons. I also plan to use it for Earth Day.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved trees. Loved to lie on the ground and peer up through the branches. Hear the leaves rustle in the wind. And even loved rolling in them when the trees shed their leaves for the winter.

Do you remember doing that? Do you remember being buried in a pile of leaves, breathing their earthy scent? I do to this day.

This book is like taking a walk into the past. To those younger years when everything seemed so large and miraculous.

The delightfully colorful illustrations in the story burst from the pages. It makes me want to get out some watercolors and do some painting.

One of the first things I painted with water colors was a tree. Loved drawing the sturdy trunk, adding the branches, and the smaller limbs. Then came the leaves. All shapes and sizes.

Come take a walk with Christopher and Samuel. Next time you’re outside, stop and look at the trees. See their strength and beauty.

While this picture book is intended for early readers, I’d recommend it to all ages. The beautiful illustrations and story fill you with a sense of wonder.

I received this book for my honest review.

[Jonathan Kemmerer-Scovner · Rating 4 out of 5]

He takes an approach which is at once both realistic and magical. The images for the story carry this duality... glanced at briefly, they seem quite photo-realistic... some of them almost look like actual photos. He captures the essence and details of different types of trees quite well. However, looking at them more closely, I see the slight unreality to them, the way the leaves swirl like wet paint.

The clouds and the grass have the same effect, like heat waves rising from the pavement, a desert mirage.

The eyes of a child is the POV, and the narration invites us to look at the trees with the same childlike wonder, to marvel at their height, their age, all of the things they offer. The magic of the natural world.

The story is a love letter to the young child, Sam. The trees are just the beginning of the wonders the world holds.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale of the wonders of the trees is an intriguing look at some things we may take for granted. It speaks to the child in the story, Sam, asking him if he has ever stopped to just look at the trees.

It then talks of the trees growing strong, the presence they have and the beauty they possess. This is all written out in an interesting way that also mirrors Sam's life and what he wants to become. It's filled with pictures of nature that are given a unique, surreal look and add to the beauty of the story. I especially liked the autumn picture full of colorful leaves.

It's a simple yet wonderful story that would be great to read to the little ones and I think they will enjoy hearing as well. Anything today that tells a child how important nature is (and not the electronic devices they covet) should be shared.

*I was offered a free copy of this book in return for an honest review*