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The Tree Talks Back
This is a story for children of all ages … a throwback to an earlier time, perhaps before the domestication of plants and animals. When trees could talk.
A plucky girl. An enormous tree. A tight-knit community of animals with legs, wings, fins, exoskeletons, tails, and strong personalities, living off nature’s bounty. This had all the trappings of a treasured children’s bedtime story. But even on the first page–well, actually, on page ‘fish’–there were signs of discord, of humans and nature at odds.
There was no script for what happened next. Not even proper page numbers. What went wrong?? Some say it was the girl. Others point fingers, fins, wings, tails, trunks, hooves and antennae at the author and illustrator. The Tree remains silent on the subject. But even The Tree’s grand silence seems to echo what all parties involved appear to agree on–the timeless power of one universal force to unite all living things, predator, prey, and protagonist alike, despite their differences, and bestow–or impose–upon them a sense of common direction–gravity.
Readers who are looking for a dystopian trilogy or a book that celebrates conventional marketing wisdom, and includes at least one of the following: a dragon, a dinosaur, a child’s confectionery treat, market-tested message of inspiration or whimsy, or a member of royalty (prince/princess rank or higher) . . . are barking up the wrong tree. The tree in this book is full of sass, animals with attitude, lots of fruit, and a spry girl who has not endeared herself to the Tree Community, and who’s bound and determined to climb, swing, and ruffle all manner of feathers and leaves to reach the one fruit she really wants.
Esa's illustrations are relentless and captivating, the story line anything but predictable. These first-time collaborators have created a book that will leave the reader, child and adult alike, wondering what just happened. But in a good way. Only after the tenth reading will the full gravity of the illustrator’s unique interpretation of one of her childhood bedtime stories sink in.
Underlying a whimsical story line is a subtle yet unmistakable metaphor of biodiversity and stewardship. The Tree, the animals, most of the ants, and Mother Nature will weather the storm (that’s how you know it’s a fairy tale). And the laws of physics and nature will return unfazed from a bedtime reprieve.
Currently available from Amazon's CreateSpace estore. and at Amazon
May your bedtimes be blessed with stories and memories that live long and weather the elements. Like a tree.
Goodreaders discount code (from Amazon's CreateSpace estore, $2 off): 9FX3LM7G
A plucky girl. An enormous tree. A tight-knit community of animals with legs, wings, fins, exoskeletons, tails, and strong personalities, living off nature’s bounty. This had all the trappings of a treasured children’s bedtime story. But even on the first page–well, actually, on page ‘fish’–there were signs of discord, of humans and nature at odds.
There was no script for what happened next. Not even proper page numbers. What went wrong?? Some say it was the girl. Others point fingers, fins, wings, tails, trunks, hooves and antennae at the author and illustrator. The Tree remains silent on the subject. But even The Tree’s grand silence seems to echo what all parties involved appear to agree on–the timeless power of one universal force to unite all living things, predator, prey, and protagonist alike, despite their differences, and bestow–or impose–upon them a sense of common direction–gravity.
Readers who are looking for a dystopian trilogy or a book that celebrates conventional marketing wisdom, and includes at least one of the following: a dragon, a dinosaur, a child’s confectionery treat, market-tested message of inspiration or whimsy, or a member of royalty (prince/princess rank or higher) . . . are barking up the wrong tree. The tree in this book is full of sass, animals with attitude, lots of fruit, and a spry girl who has not endeared herself to the Tree Community, and who’s bound and determined to climb, swing, and ruffle all manner of feathers and leaves to reach the one fruit she really wants.
Esa's illustrations are relentless and captivating, the story line anything but predictable. These first-time collaborators have created a book that will leave the reader, child and adult alike, wondering what just happened. But in a good way. Only after the tenth reading will the full gravity of the illustrator’s unique interpretation of one of her childhood bedtime stories sink in.
Underlying a whimsical story line is a subtle yet unmistakable metaphor of biodiversity and stewardship. The Tree, the animals, most of the ants, and Mother Nature will weather the storm (that’s how you know it’s a fairy tale). And the laws of physics and nature will return unfazed from a bedtime reprieve.
Currently available from Amazon's CreateSpace estore. and at Amazon
May your bedtimes be blessed with stories and memories that live long and weather the elements. Like a tree.
Goodreaders discount code (from Amazon's CreateSpace estore, $2 off): 9FX3LM7G
38 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2016
428 people want to read
About the author
Bill Grigsby
1 book13 followersBy day Bill Grigsby teaches Sociology at a small public college. By night he writes children's stories. In his sleep. Sometimes while he's grading papers.
Why? Well, his oldest daughter Esa announced after graduating from college that she would like to try her hand at illustration. ‘I told her I’d write up a bedtime story from her past, and she could illustrate it. How hard can children’s books be to pen? Complete sentences, right?’
That’s how No egrets Publishing was born. Bill keeps his day job, but at night, when he's finished preparing for the next day, on those rare nights when he doesn't fall asleep at the computer, he adjusts his literary gaze to write for a younger audience. ‘Lots of people are locked in to pretty narrow ways of thinking about the world, society, and their places in it. Some of what I do is trying to disrupt intellectual entropy. It’s not a great marketing strategy, but it’s therapeutic.’
Esa keeps her day job in Portland, but has started a masters program in publishing. Her talent for translating stories into pictures, scenes and side narratives emerges on the page.
Their stories are full of sociological themes. ‘Kids are a tougher audience than college students. You can’t hold a final exam over their heads. The subtext in The Tree Talks Back is subtle but universal, the visual adornments extravagant, and it will never be mistaken for an academic report.’
'At the time I made up this story, I had been working and researching in Africa, and as part of that studying tropical trees and fruits. Our daughters were unimpressed with my day job exploits, especially at bed (story) time. Subtext is there for those with an interest, but the story always comes first, and this one--mind you the illustrator was part of that original bedtime audience--was a labor of love.'
This story is best read to a younger audience, older children will appreciate following the meter and rhyme (and the subplots hiding in plain sight in the pictures).
Why? Well, his oldest daughter Esa announced after graduating from college that she would like to try her hand at illustration. ‘I told her I’d write up a bedtime story from her past, and she could illustrate it. How hard can children’s books be to pen? Complete sentences, right?’
That’s how No egrets Publishing was born. Bill keeps his day job, but at night, when he's finished preparing for the next day, on those rare nights when he doesn't fall asleep at the computer, he adjusts his literary gaze to write for a younger audience. ‘Lots of people are locked in to pretty narrow ways of thinking about the world, society, and their places in it. Some of what I do is trying to disrupt intellectual entropy. It’s not a great marketing strategy, but it’s therapeutic.’
Esa keeps her day job in Portland, but has started a masters program in publishing. Her talent for translating stories into pictures, scenes and side narratives emerges on the page.
Their stories are full of sociological themes. ‘Kids are a tougher audience than college students. You can’t hold a final exam over their heads. The subtext in The Tree Talks Back is subtle but universal, the visual adornments extravagant, and it will never be mistaken for an academic report.’
'At the time I made up this story, I had been working and researching in Africa, and as part of that studying tropical trees and fruits. Our daughters were unimpressed with my day job exploits, especially at bed (story) time. Subtext is there for those with an interest, but the story always comes first, and this one--mind you the illustrator was part of that original bedtime audience--was a labor of love.'
This story is best read to a younger audience, older children will appreciate following the meter and rhyme (and the subplots hiding in plain sight in the pictures).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 5, 2016
Story:
This story is just an awful lot of fun. It’s absurd and rollicking and ridiculous – and it’s one that you’re going to keep on your shelf for a long time to come. It’s certainly not your formulaic, run-of-the-mill children’s book.
Even the rhythm of the story will keep you guessing – but in a good way. I take issue (as you may have noticed) with lazy rhymes and inconsistent rhythm. There’s nothing so frustrating as reading a children’s book aloud, constantly tripped up by poor meter. This one, however, has a lovely (though unusual) rhythm to it. This book isn’t an easy read-aloud book, but it’s worth your while to read it aloud, and to read it slowly. It’s a lot of fun once you get into the flow of it.
Illustrations:
As crazy and lovely as the book itself. Obviously the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – and this father/daughter team do some great things with words and pictures. I spent a ridiculous amount of time poring over each page.
Cover:
This is really my only complaint. It’s a fun idea, but the cover text is a bit hard to read.
This story is just an awful lot of fun. It’s absurd and rollicking and ridiculous – and it’s one that you’re going to keep on your shelf for a long time to come. It’s certainly not your formulaic, run-of-the-mill children’s book.
Even the rhythm of the story will keep you guessing – but in a good way. I take issue (as you may have noticed) with lazy rhymes and inconsistent rhythm. There’s nothing so frustrating as reading a children’s book aloud, constantly tripped up by poor meter. This one, however, has a lovely (though unusual) rhythm to it. This book isn’t an easy read-aloud book, but it’s worth your while to read it aloud, and to read it slowly. It’s a lot of fun once you get into the flow of it.
Illustrations:
As crazy and lovely as the book itself. Obviously the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – and this father/daughter team do some great things with words and pictures. I spent a ridiculous amount of time poring over each page.
Cover:
This is really my only complaint. It’s a fun idea, but the cover text is a bit hard to read.
November 14, 2016
The Tree Talks Back starts with a girl walking into the forest. A little ways in, she sees a huge, no gigantic, no humongous tree. The tree is so big that it takes her half a day to walk around it. Now the most interesting thing about this tree is that it contained a lot of…. Well there were a lot of…. And then…
You know it was a really big tree and I can’t tell you what was going on because I don’t want to spoil the story for you.
The Tree Talks Back is a beautifully illustrated, very, very funny adventure story. Interestingly, the play on words is what makes this a UNIQUE read.
Sssh–another thing that is unusual about The Tree Talks Back is that the tree…zzzzzzz.
Can you believe that girl. She was about to give you a secret. I had to put her to sleep. Ahem! No spoilers here!
You know it was a really big tree and I can’t tell you what was going on because I don’t want to spoil the story for you.
The Tree Talks Back is a beautifully illustrated, very, very funny adventure story. Interestingly, the play on words is what makes this a UNIQUE read.
Sssh–another thing that is unusual about The Tree Talks Back is that the tree…zzzzzzz.
Can you believe that girl. She was about to give you a secret. I had to put her to sleep. Ahem! No spoilers here!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews