Rating: 3 out of 5

So this was on a list of books that will change how you think or something. I’ve picked up a few children’s books over the past couple of years as I’m always on the lookout for good presents for friends. And because sometimes simple books are really emotive. I struggled with this one. The tree unquestionably loves the boy. But the boy seems to exploit the tree’s love. Which can’t be a great moral or lesson to learn. Maybe it’s representing the parental love of “I’ll be here no matter what”. In which case I suspect reading it as an orphan, albeit an adult one, doesn’t resonate anymore.

Whatever, the illustrations are beautiful and simple and I can imagine a cold enjoying colouring it in.

Originally posted to my Goodreads account