I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

My Friend Tree, by Dawn Casey and Genevieve Godbout, is a children’s tale about being mindful of the gifts that nature provides, regardless of the time or the season. From the eyes of a child, a tree can take the form of various aspects in life, from a playground to swing around on, or a shelter for different animals. Casey and Godbout also delves into learning how to give back to something that’s taken cared of its community, even if it’s just one lone tree. 

The tree itself reminds me of a quaking aspen. Allegedly, the roots are attached to each other, which symbolizes the importance the tree places on friendship and community. There are certainly similarities between the quaking aspen and the tree in the book, especially with the way it cares for the creatures that live under it, human or not. It holds food for hungry souls along the way, houses those in need of a haven, provides comfort where it’s needed; it reminds me of all the food pantries and local resource centers in my home town (and there’s a lot). These facilities offer a strong backbone to our more vulnerable population. Interestingly enough, oftentimes, we also have volunteers that get food from the food pantry as well, so for the children to give back to the tree spoke volumes to how important it is to take care of one another. 

The illustrations are soothing as well. I like the soft edges that the drawing provides, alongside mixing in darker, colder colors with a more vibrant green and yellow. Whenever the children begin dreaming of the forest surrounding the tree, the drawing becomes appropriately majestic. The fact that the actions the children do to give back to the tree are isolated, as though labeling it a small act of kindness, lends to the emotional weight that the children’s actions accomplish. 

I would definitely recommend this book for people who grew up with The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It’s a good way to incorporate nature therapy into an educational and/or mental health practice. Because I enjoy meeting with people in the park and other forms of nature, this book has a cozy place in my heart.