"She helped me choose the right golden twig from
our family tree. I held it while she cut it. I picked up
a handful of Ukrainian earth, pressed it into a plastic
cup we found lying nearby, and pushed the cutting
deep in. Back in the basement, we wrapped it in a
plastic bag, and put it carefully into a side pocket
of my rucksack.
The cutting came in my rucksack with us all the
way from home to Poland to Germany to France
to England, and at last to Aunt Aneta's and Uncle
Robert's house in Exeter, where I live now, for the
moment, with Mama. We had quite a journey, I
can tell you. We had to fill out more forms than -
how do you say it? - than you've had hot dinners."
In this book that celebrates the wonder of trees and nature, Michael Morpurgo does what he does best. He uses the finest of words and the beauty in language, in poems and stories that honor his love of the wild places that are home to a variety of trees.
His memories, and various events from his life, allow him to pen the poems and tales that are so wondrous and memorable: the voice of a chair made from Nova Scotia driftwood tells readers of its nine lives, each one adventurous and meaningful; a much-loved beech tree whose life ended following a harrowing storm grows again for the next generation to love; an almond tree blossom that inspired Vincent Van Gogh to paint a new picture for his godson; a eucalyptus that gave shelter to a koala; a tiny sapling carried by a refugee as a reminder of home; and an old alder tree that stands on the riverside welcoming all who need what it has to provide.
These are stories from his life, and include a fervent hope for the Ukrainian people as they continue to fight a relentless foe. Digital collages and drawings by Yuval Zommer fill every page with natural beauty and fine details. It is a splendid read and one that will should be shared again and again.
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