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Magic Woodland #1
The Tree That Sat Down
'Here is a fairy story and it is a real old-fashioned one, full of magic spells, witches, wizards and transformation scenes. Maybe some of the characters have a modern touch...the witch for instance keeps a vacuum cleaner to assist her with her spells, but otherwise it joins all those magic tales which begin once upon a time.'
Beverly Nichols
Beverly Nichols
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1945
20 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Beverley Nichols
102 books149 followersJohn Beverley Nichols (born September 9, 1898 in Bower Ashton, Bristol, died September 15, 1983 in Kingston, London), was an English writer, playwright, actor, novelist and composer. He went to school at Marlborough College, and went to Balliol College, Oxford University, and was President of the Oxford Union and editor of Isis.
Between his first novel, Prelude, published in 1920, and Twilight in 1982, he wrote more than 60 books and plays on topics such as travel, politics, religion, cats, novels, mysteries, and children's stories, authoring six novels, five detective mysteries, four children's stories, six plays, and no fewer than six autobiographies.
Nichols is perhaps best remembered as a writer for Woman's Own and for his gardening books, the first of which Down the Garden Path, was illustrated — as were many of his books — by Rex Whistler. This bestseller — which has had 32 editions and has been in print almost continuously since 1932 — was the first of his trilogy about Allways, his Tudor thatched cottage in Glatton, Cambridgeshire. A later trilogy written between 1951 and 1956 documents his travails renovating Merry Hall (Meadowstream), a Georgian manor house in Agates Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, where Nichols lived from 1946 to 1956. These books often feature his gifted but laconic gardener "Oldfield". Nichols's final trilogy is referred to as "The Sudbrook Trilogy" (1963–1969) and concerns his late 18th-century attached cottage at Ham, (near Richmond), Surrey.
Nichols was a prolific author who wrote on a wide range of topics. He ghostwrote Dame Nellie Melba’s "autobiography" Memories and Melodies (1925), and in 1966 he wrote A Case of Human Bondage about the marriage and divorce of William Somerset Maugham and Gwendoline Maud Syrie Barnardo, which was highly critical of Maugham. Father Figure, which appeared in 1972 and in which he described how he had tried to murder his alcoholic and abusive father, caused a great uproar and several people asked for his prosecution. His autobiographies usually feature Arthur R. Gaskin who was Nichols’ manservant from 1924 until Gaskin's death from cirrhosis in 1966. Nichols made one appearance on film - in 1931 he appeared in Glamour, directed by Seymour Hicks and Harry Hughes, playing the part of the Hon. Richard Wells.
Nichols' long-term partner was Cyril Butcher. He died in 1983 from complications after a fall.
Between his first novel, Prelude, published in 1920, and Twilight in 1982, he wrote more than 60 books and plays on topics such as travel, politics, religion, cats, novels, mysteries, and children's stories, authoring six novels, five detective mysteries, four children's stories, six plays, and no fewer than six autobiographies.
Nichols is perhaps best remembered as a writer for Woman's Own and for his gardening books, the first of which Down the Garden Path, was illustrated — as were many of his books — by Rex Whistler. This bestseller — which has had 32 editions and has been in print almost continuously since 1932 — was the first of his trilogy about Allways, his Tudor thatched cottage in Glatton, Cambridgeshire. A later trilogy written between 1951 and 1956 documents his travails renovating Merry Hall (Meadowstream), a Georgian manor house in Agates Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, where Nichols lived from 1946 to 1956. These books often feature his gifted but laconic gardener "Oldfield". Nichols's final trilogy is referred to as "The Sudbrook Trilogy" (1963–1969) and concerns his late 18th-century attached cottage at Ham, (near Richmond), Surrey.
Nichols was a prolific author who wrote on a wide range of topics. He ghostwrote Dame Nellie Melba’s "autobiography" Memories and Melodies (1925), and in 1966 he wrote A Case of Human Bondage about the marriage and divorce of William Somerset Maugham and Gwendoline Maud Syrie Barnardo, which was highly critical of Maugham. Father Figure, which appeared in 1972 and in which he described how he had tried to murder his alcoholic and abusive father, caused a great uproar and several people asked for his prosecution. His autobiographies usually feature Arthur R. Gaskin who was Nichols’ manservant from 1924 until Gaskin's death from cirrhosis in 1966. Nichols made one appearance on film - in 1931 he appeared in Glamour, directed by Seymour Hicks and Harry Hughes, playing the part of the Hon. Richard Wells.
Nichols' long-term partner was Cyril Butcher. He died in 1983 from complications after a fall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 16, 2013
I didn't read this book as a child - it was a recent discovery. Perhaps I would have liked the ending when I was younger. As it was I think I would have preferred it if Mr Tortoise had turned out to be an ancient sage magician a la Gandalf instead of what actually transpired. I am, however, looking forward to reading the other two in the trilogy to see how things develop.
March 20, 2014
One of my absolute favourite books from my childhood, which I think has had a great deal to do with my love of nature throughout my life.
I still yearn for the Shop Under the Willow Tree.
I still think of trying to gather some 'sleepo' when I can't get to sleep at night.
"Whenever a cat or a dog or a dormouse or any other animal is sleeping, the air it breathes out through its mouth or its nose has got a little Sleepo in it. You cannot see it, any more than you can see the air itself, but it is there. Now if the animal goes on sleeping, the Sleepo drifts away, like smoke, and goes up to the ceiling or flies out of the window. But if you take a glass jar, and hold it near its nose, a lot of Sleepo goes into the jar and settles down. And if you bottle it up and recite the right spells over the bottle, it will keep for a whole month; and when you pour it out of the bottle again, it will send you to sleep."
My copy dates from 1947 and a great deal of its magical appeal to me as a child came from the delicate illustrations by Isobel and John Morton Sale.
I still yearn for the Shop Under the Willow Tree.
I still think of trying to gather some 'sleepo' when I can't get to sleep at night.
"Whenever a cat or a dog or a dormouse or any other animal is sleeping, the air it breathes out through its mouth or its nose has got a little Sleepo in it. You cannot see it, any more than you can see the air itself, but it is there. Now if the animal goes on sleeping, the Sleepo drifts away, like smoke, and goes up to the ceiling or flies out of the window. But if you take a glass jar, and hold it near its nose, a lot of Sleepo goes into the jar and settles down. And if you bottle it up and recite the right spells over the bottle, it will keep for a whole month; and when you pour it out of the bottle again, it will send you to sleep."
My copy dates from 1947 and a great deal of its magical appeal to me as a child came from the delicate illustrations by Isobel and John Morton Sale.
February 28, 2015
This was going to be a very different review; it's all changed because of an article I read a week ago and can't remember where. Basically it was discussing modern children's taste in books and how the classics are no longer loved and even wondrous Alice in Wonderland is snubbed, while the new urge for quick, easy gratification in books, (as well as all things) is now fashionable. How sad I thought, no delicious, slow excitement as the imagination is teased into full flower, no more delicious spine-tingling terror as evil tries to defeat good and of course never does, just simplistic Dora et al. How very, very sad. who will write these books when we are all gone?
No surely not... there are still children around like I once was, loving stories of what is evil, how to recognise it and be good and thoroughly noble, no matter the temptation to take the easy way out and join the status quo, instead they never give up the fight. There must be those kind of children still somewhere and they will keep fighting to keep imagination alive. I sincerely hope so; I have to hope they haven't all turned into Barbi or GI Joe.
This book for is for discerning parents who want more than the usual humdrum for their children, then I thought, but it's often not the parents but the children who are rebelling, this is much trickier, it's called propaganda and it's pink fluffy anything for girls and a football or cricket bat for boys (if dad has anything to do with it) or maybe a drone. Of course it's not as easy to have adventures any more, our modern society decrees we are irresponsible if we let them out of our sight, and we all get that, so no rush of fear, no ghost stories in the dark, no strange noises in the night that make us pull up the covers. They are protected, no need for cautionary fairy stories any more, no adventures away from home with friends walking the woods. Let's leave those ideas to settle, while I describe this adorable book.
I can't believe I didn't read it when I was young. I was sent a second-hand copy, now valuable, according to Amazon, because this glorious gem is out of print. True it was written a long time ago in 1945 and the first thing I noticed is how it isn't out of date, not really. Nice, kind, thoughtful Miss Judy may be a little old-fashioned but I like to think a parent might be impressed by her manners and kindness, and want a similar child. And then there is Sam, truly a monster of these times as well as 1945. He is plain evil, a greedy, cheating coward, you know the kind, the news is full of them, they tend to get away with it....even more so nowadays. And of course the Old Witch who wears a wig hiding pegs pulling away her skin to hide her wrinkles, a false nose and lots of make-up... 2 a penny now, witch or not. And it gets better, animals who won't admit to ignorance and try to find the truth for themselves, but agree with the first explanation plausible or not, and worse, stick to it even when it makes them look ridiculous, or worse that sense of worthlessness makes them open to sadistic blackmail. Sound familiar? There's more: Miss Squirrel who has a perfectly lovely tail, but is so insecure she wants to dye it blue... I could go on but I think by now you get just how modern it is. I laughed so much and yet it is a cautionary tale, as are fairy stories.
Firstly, I recommend it to parents and grandparents to read, understand and smile, even laugh a little as they recognise the characters. Then, well this is a true test, see what the little ones think of it, if they can receive it without squirming or interrupting they may be taking some of the lessons into their imagination. If you can see they do, breathe a huge sigh of relief because they are getting equipped to start understanding the very disturbing world they must enter alone one day. And if your child isn't the slightest bit interested then you really have your work cut out to keep them safe from the predators.
I really enjoyed this; a jewel that must not be forgotten.
No surely not... there are still children around like I once was, loving stories of what is evil, how to recognise it and be good and thoroughly noble, no matter the temptation to take the easy way out and join the status quo, instead they never give up the fight. There must be those kind of children still somewhere and they will keep fighting to keep imagination alive. I sincerely hope so; I have to hope they haven't all turned into Barbi or GI Joe.
This book for is for discerning parents who want more than the usual humdrum for their children, then I thought, but it's often not the parents but the children who are rebelling, this is much trickier, it's called propaganda and it's pink fluffy anything for girls and a football or cricket bat for boys (if dad has anything to do with it) or maybe a drone. Of course it's not as easy to have adventures any more, our modern society decrees we are irresponsible if we let them out of our sight, and we all get that, so no rush of fear, no ghost stories in the dark, no strange noises in the night that make us pull up the covers. They are protected, no need for cautionary fairy stories any more, no adventures away from home with friends walking the woods. Let's leave those ideas to settle, while I describe this adorable book.
I can't believe I didn't read it when I was young. I was sent a second-hand copy, now valuable, according to Amazon, because this glorious gem is out of print. True it was written a long time ago in 1945 and the first thing I noticed is how it isn't out of date, not really. Nice, kind, thoughtful Miss Judy may be a little old-fashioned but I like to think a parent might be impressed by her manners and kindness, and want a similar child. And then there is Sam, truly a monster of these times as well as 1945. He is plain evil, a greedy, cheating coward, you know the kind, the news is full of them, they tend to get away with it....even more so nowadays. And of course the Old Witch who wears a wig hiding pegs pulling away her skin to hide her wrinkles, a false nose and lots of make-up... 2 a penny now, witch or not. And it gets better, animals who won't admit to ignorance and try to find the truth for themselves, but agree with the first explanation plausible or not, and worse, stick to it even when it makes them look ridiculous, or worse that sense of worthlessness makes them open to sadistic blackmail. Sound familiar? There's more: Miss Squirrel who has a perfectly lovely tail, but is so insecure she wants to dye it blue... I could go on but I think by now you get just how modern it is. I laughed so much and yet it is a cautionary tale, as are fairy stories.
Firstly, I recommend it to parents and grandparents to read, understand and smile, even laugh a little as they recognise the characters. Then, well this is a true test, see what the little ones think of it, if they can receive it without squirming or interrupting they may be taking some of the lessons into their imagination. If you can see they do, breathe a huge sigh of relief because they are getting equipped to start understanding the very disturbing world they must enter alone one day. And if your child isn't the slightest bit interested then you really have your work cut out to keep them safe from the predators.
I really enjoyed this; a jewel that must not be forgotten.
October 25, 2020
I fell in love with this book from the first paragraph. It's a charming fantasy book sent in an enchanted forest. With a cast of endearing animal characters all with their own quirks and traits and some really fun dialogue it really does lift it above the average children's story. There's great set pieces like the badger family, the pink baby chameleon, how to collect the magic sleep potion, Mr peacock and his tail, which are full of charm, wit and absurdism. Although written in the 40s there are also great lessons which are still relevant to today's children such as it may be more difficult to be nice but it's better in the long run and a love and respect of nature. Beverly Nichols was a pacifist for most of his life (WW ii made him rethink some of that philosophy) and that comes through in the story so is his mistrust of capitalism at the expense of all else. He was also a poet and there are lots of fun rhymes here too. The ending may be a bit fairytale for some but I really recommend this for fans of fantasy fiction old and young :D
October 4, 2014
I started this book and was enjoying it but being the sensitive soul that I am, I couldn't go on after seeing the title 'Bruno recaptured.' I went to the end of the book and saw everything was made better and everybody was happy. That's all I needed to know. I can't read sad stories involving animals in any shape or form. Wimp.
December 19, 2019
I also read the Stream that Stood Still and enjoyed them both in spite of them being dated. I will now read the Magic Mountain so that I have a clear idea of the progression of the story. I had forgotten the conversational style and the little historical references. For a book written in the 1940's to last this long it must be something special.
September 2, 2016
I remember this book so well - it was one of my favourites when I was a kid. It's a shame it's not better known, I think it's wonderful.
July 30, 2020
One of the most delightful children’s books I’ve read in a very long time, probably since I was a child. Highly recommend to a dreamy, imaginative 10 year old.
March 6, 2014
My favourite childhood story, don't think I'll ever forget this one! Such a beautiful book :)
January 16, 2008
Strange but true...the smallest thing alwas makes the biggest change.
July 28, 2021
Lots of sweet lessons on life mixed in with a fun story. I was caught up in it from the very beginning, with Sleepo and Wakeo. After awhile I tired of the story and wasn't very enamored with the ending.
‘I was afraid this would happen one day,’ she said. ‘We are faced with Competition.’ ‘What is “competition”, Grannie?’ ‘Some people call it “progress”, others call it “the survival of the fittest”; but whatever name they use, it is always cruel.’
"And so Judy’s kind action had only served to injure Judy herself. Which is often the way of kind actions, though that should not prevent us from performing as many of them as we can."
"There was a great deal of twittering and whispering, but they were very grave and reverent, for animals understand death much better than humans."
‘He looks as though he was shockingly honest and disgracefully kind; I can’t abide such people.’
"Evil is a very powerful force; there is only one force more powerful, which is Good. Evil is infectious; it spreads itself far and wide. If there is anything evil at large, all the other evil things know it by instinct; they rejoice and grow strong."
‘Summer is so short,’ sighed Judy. ‘Never mind, my dear. There are still a few days left, and as you know, the last days of summer are more full of magic than any others. I must make the most of them.’
"For human Evil is of the brain and the spirit, whereas animal Evil is of the flesh and of the blood. You will have to be grown up before you can understand what that means; and even then you may not understand it fully for grown-ups are strange creatures, who are confused by words, and think that things are good or evil by reason of their names rather than by reason of their nature."
"A very golden star, a very special star, that shines for the wood alone. One day, maybe, if you search the skies, you may find that star. And if you follow it, it may lead you to the wood. Maybe yes, maybe no. For it is not easy to follow a star. But it is always worth trying."
‘I was afraid this would happen one day,’ she said. ‘We are faced with Competition.’ ‘What is “competition”, Grannie?’ ‘Some people call it “progress”, others call it “the survival of the fittest”; but whatever name they use, it is always cruel.’
"And so Judy’s kind action had only served to injure Judy herself. Which is often the way of kind actions, though that should not prevent us from performing as many of them as we can."
"There was a great deal of twittering and whispering, but they were very grave and reverent, for animals understand death much better than humans."
‘He looks as though he was shockingly honest and disgracefully kind; I can’t abide such people.’
"Evil is a very powerful force; there is only one force more powerful, which is Good. Evil is infectious; it spreads itself far and wide. If there is anything evil at large, all the other evil things know it by instinct; they rejoice and grow strong."
‘Summer is so short,’ sighed Judy. ‘Never mind, my dear. There are still a few days left, and as you know, the last days of summer are more full of magic than any others. I must make the most of them.’
"For human Evil is of the brain and the spirit, whereas animal Evil is of the flesh and of the blood. You will have to be grown up before you can understand what that means; and even then you may not understand it fully for grown-ups are strange creatures, who are confused by words, and think that things are good or evil by reason of their names rather than by reason of their nature."
"A very golden star, a very special star, that shines for the wood alone. One day, maybe, if you search the skies, you may find that star. And if you follow it, it may lead you to the wood. Maybe yes, maybe no. For it is not easy to follow a star. But it is always worth trying."
August 29, 2018
I visit a local Op Shop (Opportunity Shop = Charity Shop) at least once a week to drop off goods and, of course, I can’t resist looking at the books on offer, especially the children’s books as they have always had a special appeal to me. Last visit I picked up a handful of rather old paperbacks (surely no one other than me would have given them a second glance?) I remember the name Beverley Nichols from various columns in women’s magazines of the 50s and 60s but I doubt I have ever read anything longer by him. So how does a 21st century sensibility find a book first published in 1945? Well, Enid Blyton springs immediately to mind (although Nichols’ writing is probably better) as this story concerns a young girl (young woman?) and her grandmother, the only two humans in this magical wood, who run a shop supplying the needs of the various animal inhabitants of said wood. I was a bit disconcerted when the first animals we encounter in this very English wood are a leopard and a zebra. I was already onside with a bit of children’s fantasy but this stretched my incredulity a bit too far. But, I will admit, the 7 – 9 year-old me would probably have loved this book. There is a strong morality at work here and any “badness” (here described as “evil”) is punished severely. There is talk about hanging, whipping, poisoning, attempted murder and more. Not very PC these days! However the villain is given a reprieve and there is a very syruppy ending where the ugly tortoise turns into a handsome prince and sweeps the young girl off her feet. Rather boringly predictable, but again, it’s of its time. This was the first book in a series but it hasn’t encouraged me to seek out any more. I have no idea how 21st Century children would approach it, but I suspect that there is enough black and white morality here to satisfy the very young.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2023
This is one of those books just waiting for a nice edition by the New York Review of Books - it goes in and out of print and yet would be so good to put into the hands of reader who's outgrown Enid Blyton and isn't ready for Alice yet. What an odd duck Nichols was but he really could write a good yarn, even with a touch of twee and whimsy that makes this seem so old-fashioned. Like all great fairy tales, it works on several levels and the conceit of a potions shop in the woods for animals, being threatened by black magic and capitalist forces, exploited by higher powers and needed so desperately by its patrons, really resonates. If you see a copy, snap it up.
August 5, 2017
A sweet little story about a girl and her grandmother who keep a shop in the woods, and the wicked boy who with his grandfather open one of their own.
A little too pat, with characters that are either all good or all bad. The ending seemed a bit silly to a modern reader, but had I read this book as a child, I think I would have loved it most of all.
A little too pat, with characters that are either all good or all bad. The ending seemed a bit silly to a modern reader, but had I read this book as a child, I think I would have loved it most of all.
January 6, 2023
I was about to give this book four stars and then the ending ruined it all! It’s a really sweet tale of Judy and her grandmother who together run a shop under a willow tree in the woods. I enjoyed the ”lessons” scattered throughout the book, and I also appreciated the human/animal relationships. However, the ending was a huge disappointment (and has not aged well).
May 2, 2020
ไม่ว่าคนดูแลจะใจดีหรือใจร้ายก็ตาม สัตว์ทั้งหลายต่างคงอยากจะเต้นอย่างร่าเริงไปตามประสาของมันตามแมกไม้สีเขียว หรือบินไปไหนก็ได้ตามใจชอบของมันอย่างอิสระเสรี นั่นคือบินอยู่ในท้องฟ้าสีคราม
ต้นไม้เมื่อยเป็น (น.๕๗), โดย บีเวอร์ลี นิโคลส์, ๒๕๒๕, กรุงเทพฯ: สำนักพิมพ์กอไผ่
ต้นไม้เมื่อยเป็น (น.๕๗), โดย บีเวอร์ลี นิโคลส์, ๒๕๒๕, กรุงเทพฯ: สำนักพิมพ์กอไผ่
August 2, 2022
I read this book as a child and decided to read the series again. I loved the story and the imagination, and the fact that it all ended happily ever after. Enough horrid people, smelly people, proud as a peacock people and witches to keep 8-10 years old very entertained.
November 27, 2024
It started off strong with some good lessons but towards the middle I got a little bored and didn’t like where the story went. The ending was sweet and fairytale like. Wouldn’t read this to my child though, a little too dark.
July 31, 2017
This book sparked my love of fantasy.
December 9, 2017
This is a lovely book. I love the contrast between animals and humans. Towards the end of the book, I was highly amused. I enjoyed the ideas for kids and parents to bring magic into everyday life.
July 10, 2018
My absolute favorite book when I was a child and no less magical as an adult.
April 30, 2020
Magical
July 28, 2020
Started well, but the ending was just weird.
June 22, 2023
I read this as a child and remembered enjoying it, so I grabbed it to read on a sunny picnic in the woods. It was wonderfully of its time, just a sweet bit of fun.
March 8, 2024
Love this trilogy
Want to read
September 14, 2016I am learning English and I don't know how to select it. please help me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2016
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT ANIMALS EXPLOITED IN CIRCUSES
A really sweet and unusual story. I'd love to have a Shop Under The Tree. I felt so sad about the bear, and so glad that in the end he escaped.
"Bruno was four years old when he escaped. Even in those days he was a big bear but he was very thin; they always kept him half-starved so that he should not grow strong enough to bite; and it was only because he had such a thick coat that you did not see his bones sticking out.
He could not remember anything about his parents, because he had been stolen from them when he was a baby. All he knew about life was his cage and the circus. His cage was so small that he had to twist his neck to get into it, and he always had cramp when he woke up int he morning. But the cage was better than the circus - oh, very much better! For in the circus he had to dance, even though his limbs were cramped, and jump through terrible flaming hoops which scorched his fur, and if he flinched or faltered, they prodded him with sharp sticks which made him bleed. The men with sticks always had smiles on their faces, because they did not want the crowd to know how cruel they were..."
A really sweet and unusual story. I'd love to have a Shop Under The Tree. I felt so sad about the bear, and so glad that in the end he escaped.
"Bruno was four years old when he escaped. Even in those days he was a big bear but he was very thin; they always kept him half-starved so that he should not grow strong enough to bite; and it was only because he had such a thick coat that you did not see his bones sticking out.
He could not remember anything about his parents, because he had been stolen from them when he was a baby. All he knew about life was his cage and the circus. His cage was so small that he had to twist his neck to get into it, and he always had cramp when he woke up int he morning. But the cage was better than the circus - oh, very much better! For in the circus he had to dance, even though his limbs were cramped, and jump through terrible flaming hoops which scorched his fur, and if he flinched or faltered, they prodded him with sharp sticks which made him bleed. The men with sticks always had smiles on their faces, because they did not want the crowd to know how cruel they were..."
October 29, 2016
One of my fondest childhood memories is reading through the Doubleday catalogue every month with Mum and choosing which books to send away for. Is there anything better than getting a package of books in the mail? Beverley Nichols's Magic Woodland trilogy was one of the numerous arrivals in those days, and while I was captivated by the cover illustration and started reading the first book, I never got very far. The tyranny of choice that comes from having too many good books to read often means you never get around to reading any of them!
Happily as an adult, I still love reading children's books, particularly if they're written in such as a way as to enchant older readers. This was a charming story that had elements of Enid Blyton, C.S. Lewis and Edward Eager, three of my favourite children's fantasy authors. There's talking animals, a beautiful woodland setting, magic, good humour and philosophising and a fairytale ending.
Now that I've finally read this, I can't wait to move on to the two sequels. How lucky am I to still be able to discover that the magic in some children's books doesn't fade with age or time?
Happily as an adult, I still love reading children's books, particularly if they're written in such as a way as to enchant older readers. This was a charming story that had elements of Enid Blyton, C.S. Lewis and Edward Eager, three of my favourite children's fantasy authors. There's talking animals, a beautiful woodland setting, magic, good humour and philosophising and a fairytale ending.
Now that I've finally read this, I can't wait to move on to the two sequels. How lucky am I to still be able to discover that the magic in some children's books doesn't fade with age or time?
December 13, 2013
I picked up this trilogy while thrifting last week and started reading this book and found myself charmed and enchanted by it's story and the picture it paints. It's a lovely book, and it was a nice time to read something with a happy ending. I look very forward to starting the next book. It's very cute and well connected with the magic of nature - depicts that lovely dreamlike nature story that is nice to read when you want to relax.
June 19, 2014
The main theme of The Tree That Sat Down is about how good is stronger than evil and will always win out. We all need to take care of each other and listen to each other. Sadly, the book ends in a bizarre and disappointing way. Being good is it's own reward and you don't need to be moved into a castle and wear fine clothes since you made the choice to be kind.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews