Following on from Lori’s picturebook reviews of woodland stories from Spain, Germany and France, today we explore trees in stories from India, Faroe Islands, Madagascar and Finland.

Trees in stories don’t only represent nature, they can also symbolize how we are linked to nature and our environment. This connection can be most effectively shown through stories which address young readers not only through vivid illustrations but also through the emotional impact the story has on them. 

By Brigita Orel

The Cherry Tree

Six-year-old Rakesh finds some cherries on his way home from school, and after he eats them he is left with a seed. He asks his grandfather if seeds are lucky, and his grandfather says that nothing is lucky if it is not used. So Rakesh plants the seed and then watches the tree grow year after year. The tiny cherry tree withstands monsoons, the neighbour’s grass cutters, and a hungry goat. At last, when Rakesh is nine, the tree blossoms for the first time. Rakesh feels as though he has performed a miracle by planting the tiny seed that grew into a tree that gives fruit and shade to everyone, as well as pollen to bees. 

A beautifully told story about ‘small miracles’ from India.

The Tree

Bob would love to know what is on the other side of the tree but he doesn’t dare to go and see. His friend Hilbert says he’s been there several times, but when Hilbert also says he can fly despite being a dog, Bob doesn’t know what to think. 

This quirky story is accompanied by simple yet amusing illustrations that will entertain young readers. Adults, however, will enjoy equal amusement by pondering the larger questions about life that Oskarsson hints at in the story.

Ibotity or Who is Strongest? 

The story begins when strong winds uproot a tree, causing Ibotity to fall from it and break a leg. This makes her wonder if the tree is the strongest because it broke her leg. But the tree says it must be the wind, because it managed to uproot the tree. And so it goes on and on, from a mountain to a rat, from a cat to a string.

The vivid, multi-textured illustrations create the perfect atmosphere for readers to imagine strolling under the baobabs on Madagascar. 

Covered by Forest

As a special mention, I would like to add another book which hasn’t yet been translated into English in its entirety, but one story, Old Aspen, has been translated and is published online here.

This comic weds traditional Finnish stories and myths with modern day issues of ecology, biocentrism, and nature preservation. Each story is about a specific tree and addresses the misuse of and disrespect humans have shown nature in modern times.

The illustrations are gorgeous and very atmospheric, adding another layer of meaning to the stories.

About Brigita Orel

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