Explore | Children's Books Heal

What Do You See When You Look at a Tree?

Emma Carlisle, Author and Illustrator

Templar Books, Fiction, Nov. 1, 2022

Suitable for ages: 3 – 7

Themes: Trees, Nature, Discovery, Explore

Earth Day, Atpril 22, 2023

Opening: What do you see when you look at a tree? / Leaves and twigs and branches? / Or do you see a living thing that moves and breathes and dances?

Book Jacket Synopsis:

Have you ever climbed a tree, or sat in its shade on a hot, sunny day? Have you ever wondered who has gazed up at its branches before you? In this gentle picture book, author-illustrator Emma Carlisle encourages children to explore their connections with nature. What types of trees are found all around the world? How is each tree different? What might a tree have witnessed over its centuries of life, and what other children may have played under its branches?

Full of finely drawn tress of al all shapes and sizes, this sweet story depicts the natural environment through the eyes of a child, urging young readers to connect with the world around them and fostering a lifelong love of nature.

Why I like this book:

What a perfect time to be thinking about trees with Earth Day on Saturday and spring in full bloom. Emma Carlisle has created a gem of a book for readers. And I believe it is a book that will stir many memories in adults. The beautiful rhyming text is peaceful and will draw readers into the story. Carlisle’s artwork is warm, friendly and inviting.

This is a quiet and contemplative book the encourages children to pause and take a moment to examine the trees in their back yard, school yard, park and on their morning walks through the woods. It encourages children to identify the trees around them. Are there pine trees that keep their needles all year long? Do other trees have blossoms that have beautiful pink or white blooms in the spring or have golden colors in the autumn? What birds and animals live in and under the trees?

I was drawn to this book because of my memories of spending hours around trees as a child. We had beautiful fruit trees and my favorite was a cherry tree where I would climb up into the center and sing for hours. I loved picking cherries for pies. I also enjoyed shooing the birds away. It was my hiding tree. The big willows in the back were my climbing trees and I would climb to the top to see downtown Columbus in the distance. And then there were buckeye trees to climb. I gathered twigs of buckeyes and dipped them in melted gold or silver crayons to create decorations..

I particularly love the suggestions and questions the author poses at the end of the book like Listening in Trees, How to Be More Like a Tree, Rest, Spread Your Roots and many more. Make sure you check out the author’s note at the end where she shares her own journey with trees.

Resources: There are so many suggestions for readers about how to use this book. I’ve already shared some. Most important, take a walk around your own backyard and identify the trees. Is there a tree that you would like to plant? Enjoy being outdoors enjoying nature.

Emma Carlisle is an artist who teaches illustration at the University of Plymouth. Her first book, Lion Practice, was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She lives in Plymouth, England.

Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.

*Review copy provided by Templar/Candlewick in exchange for a review.

Dusk Explorers

Lindsay Leslie, Author

Ellen Rooney, Illustrator

Page Street Kids, Fiction, Jun.2, 2020

Suitable for Ages: 4-8

Themes: Dusk, Summer, Play, Games, Fireflies, Explore, Nature, Neighborhoods

Opening: “The sun begins to sink. The neighborhood beckons…”

Amazon Synopsis:

It’s that special time of evening, when the hours and the possibilities seem endless: Light is fading. A buzz of excitement and wonder takes over the neighborhood….What outdoor adventures await?

Join a diverse group of suburban kids as they dash and dodge in classic street games like tag and kick-the-can and reconnect with nature’s simple pleasures catching frogs, hunting fireflies, and climbing trees. These explorers play, laugh, and make the most of their own front yards right up until their parents call out that “It’s time to come home!” But when the sun begins to set tomorrow, they’ll be back for more evening excitement!

This ode to the timeless magic of summer evenings spent outside will remind kids of the fun and friends that wait just outside their doors and leave adults smiling with nostalgia for their own dusk explorations.

Why I like this book:

Lindsay Leslie’s Dusk Explorers is a beautiful tribute to magical summer evenings. It is the perfect summer gift book. It will bring back childhood memories for parents and encourage children to explore the outdoors at the special time of dusk. With the pandamic curtailing a lot of play, parents can encourage kids to explore their own yards, play games, catch fireflies, gaze at the stars, and listen to the sounds of nature as darkness comes. There is so much to do and explore.

The text is written in a free-flowing verse that is very lyrical. There is a lovely rhythm that speaks to the senses and beckons children to come outdoors to play. Each spread begins with: looking, calling, searching, hoping, waiting, longing, watching, wishing, and listening. “Calling for leapfroggers who love to jump over backs and fall down on itchy blades of freshly cut grass …” and “Wishing for firefly catchers who love to fling their nets into the dimming sky sprinkled with diamonds.”

Ellen Rooney’s illustrations are lively, colorful and show an active group of diverse children having the time of their lives. Her artwork is simply breathtaking as we watch the sun lower in the sky, fireflies flicker in the dark and the stars shine brightly above.

Note: I reviewed this book today in honor of what would have been my father’s 99th birthday! I hold so many memories of my favorite time of day as a child — dusk! That meant I’d spend time playing catch or throwing a frisbee with my dad in the backyard. Sometimes we’d water the grass to nudge the worms to the surface and then we’d snatch them for fishing bait. Other times we’d climb the ladder to the roof and gaze at the stars. And the entire neighborhood would become alive with parents and kids enjoying the evening together. I’m sure many of you will find this book very nostalgic!

Resources: Encourage your children to go outside. This could be a fun activity for both kids and their parents as the day cools. I remember playing catch with my dad, throwing the frisbee, riding my bike with friends and mothers around the neighborhood circle, and watering the grass to snatch worms from the grass to go fishing with my dad. Be creative and have fun!

Lindsay Leslie spent her childhood summers playing all the games found on these pages. Nowadays, she still loves the outdoors, but she love writing too. She is also the author of This Book Is Spinelesss and Nova the Star Eater. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family and two dogs.

*Reviewed from a library copy.