A Tree for Everyone

For Jake and his friends, the tree was a magical place where they built a tree house and played marvellous games. But when more children came, angry words and unkind actions destroyed everything …until they realise that they need to resolve their differences to move forward.

‘A Tree for Everyone’ is a delightful, heart-warming story, celebrating the importance of taking and giving second chances as well as the joys of imaginative play.

For Jake, Aiden and Pip, the tree is the perfect place for all their creative play, becoming a pirate ship, a castle, a space rocket…whatever they dream and invent. Their joyful play comes to an end when they feel their space is threatened by the arrival of three more children. Things escalate quickly from Jake and his friends not wanting to share ‘their’ tree to the destruction of the tree house. No longer having such a special shared place, the children drift off to do other things, but when Jake and one of the other children, Lily, gravitate back to the tree, a new understanding and friendship springs up as they apologise to each other. Perfect for sharing at story time, the book promotes ideas of empathy and kindness, showing the tree can very successfully be a shared space, sparking discussions about special places or games and how others can be included. Children are sure to want to share their favourite games, perhaps leading to a class book of ideas.

Vibrant, fun-filled illustrations reflect the joys of creative play with the tree central to their joy. Lily and Jake are surrounded by its greenery as they apologise for their unkind words and deeds. There are many details to notice and enjoy!

A lovely book about friendship and sharing, kindness and creativity.

A Tree for Everyone

Kathy Urban, illustrated by Rosie Butcher

Little Steps ISBN: 978-1915641427