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Tree
When a family wants to cut down a tree to build a house, what happens to the animals nests and burrows? Can a tree be home to everyone?
For the rabbits, birds, and squirrels, the big tree is home. But then come two new arrivals with wonderful plans, all ready to create their dream house. What will it mean for the animal families if their tree is cut down? With empathy and imagination, Neal Layton offers a hopeful outlook in this simple and powerful fable about the harmony of the natural world."
For the rabbits, birds, and squirrels, the big tree is home. But then come two new arrivals with wonderful plans, all ready to create their dream house. What will it mean for the animal families if their tree is cut down? With empathy and imagination, Neal Layton offers a hopeful outlook in this simple and powerful fable about the harmony of the natural world."
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2017
109 people want to read
About the author
Neal Layton
129 books16 followersNeal Layton is the illustrator of POOP, EXTREME ANIMALS, WHAT's EATING YOU, and JUST THE RIGHT SIZE, all written by Nicola Davies. Neal Layton lives in Portsmouth, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 22, 2022
Sparse text and engaging illustrations make this a simple and quick read, yet it contains a deep message of living in harmony with nature.
December 6, 2017
How many animals need trees to survive? Must we always cut trees down - or can we find ways to exist with trees in a way that benefits us and still helps nature? Wonderful book for young and old alike - read this book to a small child before taking a walk in the woods.
March 20, 2017
A large tree stands on land that has been bought by a couple, who plan to build their new home there. But first they must cut down the tree in order to do that. As they begin to saw the tree down, they have a big surprise - the tree is already a home to rabbits, owls, birds, and squirrels. Horrified that they almost displaced all these residents, the couple go home and redo their house plans. Kids are in for a big surprise when they discover the solution this nature-loving couple comes up with that will give everyone a home, thanks to the tree.
This is a really nice environmental/conservation fable, perfect for Earth Day programs on April 22, 2017, and it will be fun to see what the kid's think the couple's solution to their problem will be before reading the end of the book. Layton's illustrations are done in earth tones using a pen and ink wash. Though the illustrations have a somewhat humorous quality to them, they still capture all the excitement, surprise, fear, disappointment, and finally hope and happiness of all God's creatures here. There's a lesson to be learned here and it's a good one.
Layton says that writing this book began with a feeling, and you can check out pictures of his writing process HERE
This is a really nice environmental/conservation fable, perfect for Earth Day programs on April 22, 2017, and it will be fun to see what the kid's think the couple's solution to their problem will be before reading the end of the book. Layton's illustrations are done in earth tones using a pen and ink wash. Though the illustrations have a somewhat humorous quality to them, they still capture all the excitement, surprise, fear, disappointment, and finally hope and happiness of all God's creatures here. There's a lesson to be learned here and it's a good one.
Layton says that writing this book began with a feeling, and you can check out pictures of his writing process HERE
January 26, 2018
This is a cool children's book - suitable for any age child (as well as grownups) - which conveys the message of the importance and ethical requirement of human families to live in harmony with wildlife families in nature. The illustrations are schematic and would be easily understood by kids, just as the message is conveyed clearly: Us humans, who respect and protect human families, must do the same when it comes to the ecosystems of trees, by protecting trees that shelter families of living creatures, such as birds, small mammals (squirrels & rabbits). This is a great book - fun and easy to read - that can teach the very young the importance, logical reason, and responsibility of protecting nature. I recommend it for readers of any age.
January 18, 2019
The importance of how we need to be more mindful of trees and all the creatures that depend on them.
November 28, 2019
A towering pine tree shelters a bird's nest, an owls' hollow, a squirrels' nest, and a rabbits' burrow in this simple picture-book fable. Then two newcomers - a human couple - arrive, excited about building a home of their own. But when they realize that their plans will lead to the destruction of all the other creatures' homes, will they proceed? Or can some other solution be found...?
Inspired by British author/illustrator Neal Layton's family holiday in a French forest, The Tree: A Fable offers a hopeful vision of humanity learning to live in harmony with nature, finding a way to see that their own needs are met, while still protecting wildlife. The eventual solution found - a tree house! - was very pleasing, especially as the construction of tree house (to live in, rather than as play areas) is a current trend in some quarters. Recommended to all young tree and nature lovers, and to anyone searching for children's stories about living in an environmentally conscious way.
Inspired by British author/illustrator Neal Layton's family holiday in a French forest, The Tree: A Fable offers a hopeful vision of humanity learning to live in harmony with nature, finding a way to see that their own needs are met, while still protecting wildlife. The eventual solution found - a tree house! - was very pleasing, especially as the construction of tree house (to live in, rather than as play areas) is a current trend in some quarters. Recommended to all young tree and nature lovers, and to anyone searching for children's stories about living in an environmentally conscious way.
February 3, 2017
Loved this charming book and what a lovely message to give our youth about the preservation of trees and all who live there.
February 6, 2017
Simple, empathetic fable about finding harmony with nature.
February 14, 2017
Simple. Simplistic. But a good message of interdependence and our need to take care of the environment.
February 22, 2017
Sweet and simple with a great message of being part of- and not apart from- nature. Great for Earth Day collections.
February 20, 2017
THE TREE: A FABLE by Neal Layton is a heartwarming story about animals and people living together in nature.
Although this picture book contains few words, it tells a powerful story of empathy and compassion. When a couple decides to build a house, they discover their land is already populated by animals. The couple decides to find a way to live with their new neighbors.
Librarians will find this timeless book provides an excellent springboard for creative writing activities focusing on empathy and nature. It would also be a refreshing way to introduce the idea of fables.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.neallayton.co.uk.
Published by Candlewick on February 14, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Although this picture book contains few words, it tells a powerful story of empathy and compassion. When a couple decides to build a house, they discover their land is already populated by animals. The couple decides to find a way to live with their new neighbors.
Librarians will find this timeless book provides an excellent springboard for creative writing activities focusing on empathy and nature. It would also be a refreshing way to introduce the idea of fables.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.neallayton.co.uk.
Published by Candlewick on February 14, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
October 21, 2021
A lovely story about humans trying to live in harmony with nature sure to appeal to children aged 3+ With clear illustrations and large sized text this would be an excellent read aloud resource in a classroom of 4-7 year olds who could discuss the different animal habits, the emotions of the human characters and lots more after listening to the story. This could also be a great springboard for construction activities during play time, inviting the children to come up with their own creative solution to the housing problem at the heart of this story!
April 9, 2017
With spare text and lovely wash colored drawings, this picture book tells the story of a tree that is home to several different animals and a couple that comes along and wants to build their dream home in the same place. As the couple realizes their impact on these creatures, they start looking for ways they can all enjoy the same space together. This book could be a great discussion starter when talking to kids about ways people can live in harmony with nature.
April 21, 2017
A tree is home to many different animals, but all of their homes are threatened by the arrival of a young family. When the family begins building a home, they realize that a change is in order for their dream home. Luckily, the animals are invited to stay and they gain some friendly new neighbors when all is said and done.
Pen and wash illustrations. PreK-2.
Pen and wash illustrations. PreK-2.
April 20, 2017
Perfect book to read just prior to Earth Day. A fantastic message to share with all children. This book is tall in size, perfect for the subject matter.
November 28, 2017
It is a little cheesy and over-simplified, but it is also completely right that if we can see and care about others that we will need to do things differently. This will involve some scaling back of plans. It can still be wonderful.
December 2, 2017
A simple toddler and up book about a tree that hosts many families and what happens when it is in danger of being cut down. very beautiful and simple.
February 14, 2017
The kind of book you can read aloud to a preschooler again and again. The sparse words and rich illustrations partner to convey a simple, but important message. For example, the first page says "A tree," but in the illustration you notice a tree AND a "for sale" sign next to it. The next page says, "a birds' nest" but the illustration reveals a family of birds singing joyously with little musical notes rising up from their nest. You might read this aloud to children, point to the picture, and say, "What do you notice?" There's lots of room for conversations. You can ask a child, "Do you think the author needs more words? Or does he say more with his pictures? How?" Children can walk away with this book in hand and easily retell the story as they "read" the book on their own. As an adult, my heart was warmed by the animals and young expecting couple and what happens in the book. Not a new message, but a message that we need to give voice to over and over again and a story that leads us there.
February 10, 2017
A Perfect Picture Book Friday (PPBF) selection.
The first thing readers see is a mountain region with a little mesa on which grows a tall, partially bare tree. Next to the tree is a sign. What stands out are the gorgeous mountains and sky, all a wash of blues, greens, purples, and white. It’s a stunning pre-title page. This huge tree actually looks like a small tree boosted into the sky by a tree-like pole. High on a green branch . . .
The Tree has imagination. The couple changes their blueprints to create a new, ecologically sound house taking all the animals living in the tree into account. No one loses their home, and they might get a better version. Everyone lives in peace and harmony. Layton’s pen and wash illustrations are frame-worthy.
Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews for PPBF. To read the full PPBF article, and see interior illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/TheTreeAFable
The first thing readers see is a mountain region with a little mesa on which grows a tall, partially bare tree. Next to the tree is a sign. What stands out are the gorgeous mountains and sky, all a wash of blues, greens, purples, and white. It’s a stunning pre-title page. This huge tree actually looks like a small tree boosted into the sky by a tree-like pole. High on a green branch . . .
The Tree has imagination. The couple changes their blueprints to create a new, ecologically sound house taking all the animals living in the tree into account. No one loses their home, and they might get a better version. Everyone lives in peace and harmony. Layton’s pen and wash illustrations are frame-worthy.
Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews for PPBF. To read the full PPBF article, and see interior illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/TheTreeAFable
March 11, 2017
Beautifully told and illustrated. The tree is home to many animal families. When a man and pregnant woman come to build their own home on the land, they start to cut down the tree. Seeing their mistake, they redesign their home to be a tree house. Now they live with the other families in the tree.
March 12, 2017
A cute story about taking care of nature, living side-by-side. Text is very simple but the message goes much deeper
February 11, 2017
Perfect to read with Barroux's Where's the Elephant?
February 25, 2017
Just a few word per page, but an established peaceful baseline, then mounting tension, dramatic action, and suspense before a super-satisfactory resolution. Fine-tuned storytelling.
March 11, 2017
A fable of a lesson learned when humans try to cut down a tree to make room for their new house. All I could think was...why couldn't they just leave the tree alone instead of fancying it up?
May 22, 2017
A very sweet fable for the baby-toddler age range. It tells the story of what happens when something doesn't go as planned and how to work together to rebuild something after its been broken.
July 29, 2017
megan summer reading 2017, children's book, picture book, animals, nature, compassion, empathy, understanding, prek, kindergarten, first grade, second grade,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2017
A family buys land, but when they start to clear a tree they realize it's already home to many creatures. So they come up with a solution to give themselves and the animals new homes.
September 19, 2017
A simple story with beautiful illustrations and colors.
September 26, 2017
Unbearably adorable
October 5, 2017
Cute. I like it but they still use wood from another tree to make the animal homes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews