Bing's Cherries, words by Livia Blackburne and art by Julia Kuo. Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"According to Daddy, there's a lot 
about Ah Bing we don't know. But 
we know that he was Chinese like
us, and that he was an orchard man
from long ago. We wouldn't have 
our cherry tree were it not for him. 

At night, after I've washed 
the cherry juice from my hands,
I imagine Ah Bing's life."

I did not know anything about Ah Bing, for whom a certain type of cherry is named. One of the reasons I like picture book biographies so much has to do with all that I learn from reading them. This immigrant story about the Bing cherry has a father telling his daughter that they have good reason to be thankful to Ah Bing for the cherry tree in their backyard. Its bounty makes both very happy. He goes on to tell her there is a lot that is not known about Ah Bing; they do know he was Chinese. He was also an orchard man who played an important role in developing cherry trees that people so enjoy. 

In bed that night, the girl tries to imagine Ah Bing's life. He had to sail from China. Unlike many Chinese people, he was very tall, allowing him to wade ashore in San Francisco Bay. He may then have traveled north to find work where he was quickly hired because of his great height. The girl's imaginings create a kind and very helpful man who did what he could to offer assistance to people, birds and animals. His songs kept the trees happy and growing. He was a leader of men, who worked hard to keep the orchards healthy and producing. 

Ah Bing dearly missed the family he left behind in China. He was a good friend and liked by many; still, there were people who didn't like his look and felt threatened by him. Ah Bing did his best to protect himself and his team of workers. Some of the trees grew taller and sweeter due to his care. Those trees were named for him. After many years Ah Bing returned to his family, taking the tree seeds with him and planting them at his home. Today, the girl and her father reap the benefits of his hard work so long ago. At least, that's the story she believes. 

A well-written origin story, made more dramatic with digital artistic scenes that are filled with depth and clear perspective in terms of Ah Bing's size, work ethic, sadness about being so far away from family, and his humanity. 

In author and illustrator notes, the creators share their interest in American folklore, their Chinese culture, and how they made Ah Bing's story come alive for readers. Further information includes what is known about Ah Bing, further reading and a sweet recipe to try.

Nice Work, written by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Hala Tahboub. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House.. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"If I move, maybe someday someone will
know my tree without knowing me. Or maybe
they'll know me a little. Maybe they'll look
at the tree and know that someone wanted
peaches way back then. 

When told by his parents that he cannot grow a marshmallow tree, he changes his mind and chooses a peach tree. There are similarities between the two: sweet, sticky, feels like summer. Their work begins in the spring when they purchase a stick. He is not impressed, and neither is his friend Maya. She congratulates him on planting a stick. The two plant many similar sticks, assuming that in years to come they will produce even more sticks. 

Nice work! 

He continues to water the peach tree when his parents convince him that the roots are stretching down into the earth below him. To his surprise, the tree is soon covered with leaves. In a bad stroke of luck, Maya lets him know that she and her family are moving. For the rest of the year, including his birthday, Maya's move, the arrival of fall and winter, he is concerned for his tree. When bunnies nibble off the back due to hunger, he leaves them a warning that the tree will seek revenge for their actions. (And his father puts a cage around the tree.) 

In the spring when the leaves burst forth once more, elderly Ruth moves into Maya's old house and regales him with stories of a cherry tree she once planted. Ruth is a great baker of oatmeal cookies which are consumed with regularity. A blossom appears on the peach tree, and soon he is writing a letter to Maya to tell her about it. She asks about the stick forest, which he says he continues watering. Unfortunately for Maya, Ruth is the one who gets to share a peach wedge. Together, they toast next year. One can only imagine what the future holds for that peach tree. 

Nice work, indeed! 

The Mother Tree, written by Sybil Rosen and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. anne schwartz books, Penguin Random House. 2026. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"At sunset they walk through what's left of the woods.
Raw stumps lie amid heaps of bent and broken smaller 
trees. Sadie doesn't have words to describe how forlorn
and ruined everything looks. 
The nearer they get to the mother tree, the more scared 
Sadie feels. Will her beech still be there?" 

I have mentioned in previous posts that many published books for children today speak to them about the importance of our natural surroundings. A good many highlight trees, and what we are learning about their place in the health of our planet. 

In her book, Sybil Rosen introduces readers to Sadie and her mother who love to spend time walking in the forest that surrounds their home. They know these trees as friends who provide shade, homes for birds, and beauty at every turn. Sadie knows that trees and humans help each other when it comes to breathing. Sadie works in her notebook to note all they see on their daily walks. They often end up at Sadie's favorite tree: a two-hundred-year-old beech with a branch that offers a place for rest whenever the two stop to visit. 

Her mother answers Sadie's questions and shares new learning about how so much happens in the roots beneath their feet. When they notice that many of the trees have been marked with a red circle, Sadie is confused. She learns from her mother that the marked trees are destined to be cut down and sent to a lumber mill. Sadie is very upset when the loggers make their presence known by a terrible racket. As they get closer, Sadie shares her real concerns about her beech tree with Momma. 

Her mother wonders what Sadie would say to loggers if she could talk to them. Taking up her pencil, Sadie writes a heartfelt note. 

"Please do not cut down our mother tree.
The new forest will need her and we 
need the oxygen. 
Thank you very much.

Sadie"

After a long wait and a lot more cutting, Sadie and her mother return to the beech to find the loggers listened to one small child's voice. It's a start.  

The charcoal, watercolor and digital artwork is emotional in scope while showing Sadie's feelings about all that is happening to her beloved trees, and very helpful while sharing Momma's teachings about the nature of trees and that a mother tree plays a role of great importance. A note from the author provides more details for readers and some of the actions they can take to protect our forests.                                                                                      

My Sister The Apple Tree: A Refugee Story of Hope and Resilience, written by Jordan Scott and Jamal Saeed with artrwork by Zahra Marwan. Random House Studio, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 

"One day, I saw helicopters in the sky.
They bombed our village. We saw dust, 
and there was fire in the woods. The wind
turned into a machine." 

After watching twin goats frolicking together on village streets, a young boy asks why his mother wh they didn't have twins so that he, too, would have a constant companion. His mother tells him they planted an apple tree in the yard on the day he was born.

"You and the tree are twins. The apple 
tree is your sister."

From that day forward, he found solace with his sister. He spent time sitting with her, telling her about his surroundings, offering care and comfort. He brought her a blanket at night and slept with is window open so she would always feel his presence. They played together, and grew together, and when war came to their county and forced the family to move, they uprooted the tree and carried it with them to a new country. 

In their new country, he made a place for his sister. There, she grew taller, made friends with the sky, and welcomed new birds to her branches. His sister provided a listening ear for his stories, his worries, the longing for the life left behind. Together, they adapt and adjust to what is new and different. 

In an afterword, all three creators share their family stories of leaving their home countries for a new life, due to varying circumstances. Those stories shine through in the words and images created for their collaboration. Their story has warmth, emotion, hope, and resilience in the face of great difficulty.                                                                             

 

The First Christmas Tree: An Innu Tale. Written by Ovila Fontaine and illustrated by Charlotte Parent. Translated by Ann Marie Boulanger. Orca, 2025. $24.95 ages 4 and up

"The Great Manitou stopped in front of the 
fir tree. He asked, "Would you like to become a
Christmas tree for the Innu people?" 

Without hesitation, the fir tree replied. "Yes!
I want to be a Christmas tree. My needles and 
sap are already used for medicine. Now I want 
to bring joy to the children by letting them 
decorate me."

The Great Manitou, in one of his many forms, flies above the Innu during an unbearably cold winter. He knows they are struggling, and makes the decision to gift them a Christmas tree to bring a brightness to their winter season. It is in the forest he will find that tree. Beginning his careful search for the perfect tree, he is first impressed with the birch for its very useful properties. When asked if it would like to become a Christmas tree, the birch tree thinks first of itself and how much better it is than all other trees. It rejects the offer. The search moves on. A fir tree in the distance catches his eye, but not his interest. 

The larch tree's wood is hard and used by the Innu for bows and sleds. The larch tree is not interested. At the next fir tree, he takes note of its sticky branches and the sap dipping from its trunk. He again passes it by. The black spruce is appealing for its height and the moss it provides for passing caribou. Its logs warm tents with glowing heat. The larch only wants to grow larger; it has no interest in becoming a Christmas tree. Undeterred, the Great Manitou moves on again. Only then does he realize that he has come to the end of the trees to be asked. Wait! What about the fir tree? The first fir tree is delighted to accept the invitation. 

The Great Manitou is so pleased, he offers a gift of thanks. 

""Your fragrance will be the most highly prized among all the trees. Your perfume will fill the tents of the Innu and cure them of their ills. Go! Settle among the Innu.""

The Great Manitou returns to each of the trees that refused his offer, punishing them with losing their leaves in the fall and assuring that the black spruce will only exist in the far north. Once done, he returns to a clan mother and her family where food is provided for them and the first Innu Christmas is celebrated. 

Attractive, colorful artwork is much appreciated while sharing this Innu legend; young listeners will revel in the many shapes taken by the Great Manitou, always evident because of their bright pink color. Destined to be read numerous times for its appeal and excellent storytelling.                                                                                    

Piet Cools Off, written by Carina Wohlleben and Peter Wohlleben, with illustrations by Rachel Qiuqi. Translation by Jane Billinghurst.Greystone Kids, 2025. $23.95 ages 3 and up

 

"Piet comes to a pond. He sees a big green frog. 
"How do you cool down?" he asks the frog. 

"Easy! Just jump into the water," croaks the frog. 
"Ribbit!"

But Piet doesn't know how to swim. He watches
the frog splashing around for a bit. Then Piet 
continues into the woods."

The day is 'sweltering' and Piet's long tail does nothing to help keep the sun's rays off his back. He takes notice of a his friend Peter who's eating ice cream. Piet is not a fan. As he travels deeper into the forest, he sees other animals who are also doing their best to escape the heat. 

Wasps drink water and then spit in onto their nest; beetles hide under flowers; a frog cools off in a nearby pond; wild pigs use mud to keep them cool; rabbits burrow underground; a millipede and slugs find relief by hiding under leaves; and a salamander is sound asleep under a log. All of sudden, Piet notices that he is feeling much cooler. Looking up, he sees that he is shaded by a lovely old beech tree. It's a perfect place to spend the rest of his day.   

While the storytelling text tells readers about Piet's search, accompanying facts are shared in a much smaller font that adds further learning. 

"Did you know rabbits' ears help them keep cool when they 
are not in their burrows! The fur on their ears is very thin, 
so heat can escape."

As well as being interested in these additional facts, kids will be keen on the "Can you spot?' feature. It  encourages them to look more closely at some of the complementary images Ms. Qiuqi has added to her lush and colorful forest setting. 

A note from the authors (daughter and father) explains how other animals stay cool in intense heat. They finish be asking their readers to discuss the different ways they find to stay cool on a hot day. 
                                                                                      

When a Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power. Written by Kirsten Pendreigh and illustrated by Elke Boschinger. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2025. $25.99 ages 8 and up

 

"Days pass. 

Slugs slither.

Moss creeps. 

Conks clasp.

Lichen tickles. 

Jelly fungus sticks. 

Nurse log welcomes them all."

We know the beauty and majesty of trees. They provide shade on a sunny day, a home for birds and animals, fruit to satiate hunger, and a perfect place for climbing and swinging. After living a long and productive life, trees die and fall to the ground. 

"The tree grows old. 

Sap slows. 

Roots let go. 

Green turns brown. 

The tree falls 
down, 
down - 

creeeeeeak!

           Crasssshhhh! 

                           Thud!" 

That tree has a new life now ... as a Nurse Log. 

Now she provides shelter, sustenance, and a new place for growth. Chipmunks hide in a hole in the log, bobcats use the bark for sharpening claws, mushrooms and ferns take root, and bugs scurry to find a new place to live. All are welcome. They find rest there and needed shelter. She holds water when the land is parched, and feeds a seed that will one day become another tree. That new tree follows in its mother's path. She is a resting place for a child while he enjoys a quiet lunch. She is mother to all. Seasons pass, visitors can see the new growth she supports ... and then she crumbles and returns to the earth that once sustained her. 

The Pacific Northwest setting is beautifully captured by artist Elke Boschinger. Digital images offer the lush greens of the forest growth and provide a wondrous backdrop for the story told. The emerging life she is able to capture following the tree's fall is full of extraordinary detail. Ms. Pendreigh's poetic language assures that readers know the towering Douglas Fir in life, and after the fall. 

The author provides back matter on nurse logs and how they nurture new life, how they help new trees grow, how they keep the whole forest healthy, are all nurse logs fallen trees, and an explanation concerning the trees in this story. Fascinating and helpful for new learning.                                                                                    

Mighty: The Story of an Oak Tree Ecosystem, written and illustrated by Henry Cole. Peachtree, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"A year passes. 

The seedling becomes a sapling, 
its stems slender branches. 

After a decade, the sapling has 
grown taller and is now a tree ... "

What a wonder this book is! It begins with a blue jay, and an acorn. In an attempt to evade capture by a hawk, the jay drops the acorn. A tree's life begins. Of course, the acorn's landing spot is relevant to its germination. With all necessary needs met, the seedling develops on the forest floor. Within days, the oak begins a long process to full growth.

Years pass before it is considered a tree. Through those years, it continues to grow. It becomes home to many animals, birds, and insects. Its acorns are food for forest creatures; its fallen leaves enrich the earth; it provides shelter through long cold winters; it offers shade and protection for humans; and it continues to distribute its seeds into the ecosystem. 

Many years have passed before a family builds its home nearby, using wood from many of the area's trees. Then, there is another house, and another, and many more. 

"What began as an acorn is now a mighty tree, 
and a special part of a small town. 

It is still home for wildlife. 
But it is also a place for children, for couples, for families. 
It is a place for celebrations. 

The tree is home." 

While the story of the oak's development over many years, and its impact on the environment is evident and informative, the illustrations are absolutely remarkable. Using Macron pens on Bristol paper, Henry Cole has created full spreads that will have readers returning again and again to its pages to fully appreciate all they see there. Hidden creatures and dense, detailed images demand close observation at every turn. 

Back matter includes notes on building an ecosystem, and an illustration describing habitat layers within the forest environment. The inside of the dust jacket offers a careful look at the fully-grown oak tree and its resulting food web. 

https://youtu.be/XhJckiVTObk

A Tree Is A Community, written by David L. Harrison and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. Holiday House, Penguin Random House. 2024. $25.99 ages 5 and up

 

"Winter FREEZES 
like icicles 
down your back. 
The tree 
holds up her BARE arms 
and SURRENDERS." 

This is the 11th book published by Holiday House in its Books for a Better Earth series. The books are designed 'to inspire young people to become more active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on.' To that end, David L. Harrison uses striking free verse text to explore the wonders of trees. 

It is a book that begs to be read aloud. There is much to love about the trees that surround us. He takes readers from early spring, through the seasons, and back again to a new awakening the following spring. In between he explores the tree's use of rain's moisture to awaken its roots, and encourage the growth of new leaves, flowers and seeds. He pays homage to the creatures that find homes in trees, and the ecosystem that exists right there. 

"New squirrels 
LEAP 
and ACROBAT around, 
and spiders 
HANG webs 
like sticky curtains 
so moths not looking 
get WRAPPED up 
in their work."

That tree is also breathing in the air that we breathe out and breathing out the oxygen we need, while protecting its inhabitants from extreme weather changes. It continually extends an invitation for new life to find a home within its branches and in its trunk. As the book ends, two children can be seen blowing bubbles and sharing a ride on the tree's swing while enjoying a shady spot. 

Mr. Harrison's lively text pairs well with the charming and colorful artwork of Kate Cosgrove. The tree's world comes clearly to life as illustrations invite readers to explore their own natural world. In an afterword, David Harrison explains why trees are so important to life on Earth. He talks about a favorite tree in his own backyard that he watches daily for signs of life, and inspiration for his writing. He then suggests that the reader choose a favorite tree of their own to watch. 

Further back matter includes a bibliography and an index. 

Upcoming titles in this series include Frozen in Time, Plight of the Pelican, The Air We Share, Scat, Riverkeeper, Detective Dogs, My Pollinator Garden, and Eating to Save the Planet. All are due to be published early in 2025. 
                                                                            

Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate, written by Annette LeBox and illustrated by Crystal Smith. Groundwood Books, 2024. $22.99 ages 6 and up

 

"In the sunlight, Aspen's leaves produce sugar. 
Trees use sugar to grow wood and bark and leaves.
Like human children, young trees love sweets! 

Beneath the earth, fungi wrap soft cottony threads
around Aspen's roots. Fungi can't produce sugar,
so Mother Tree feeds them too."

The scientific research done by Dr. Suzanne Simard has inspired many writers to look closely at forest communities. Prior to her strong and steady dedication to proving that trees of different species loan needed sugars, it was believed that trees, in fact, competed for the food and water they needed to survive. Dr. Simard proved that forest ecosystems are cooperative, rather than competitive. 

In this homage to the Wood Wide Web, Ms. LeBox focuses her story on the aspen grove. While discussing the 'mother tree', she explains that warm earth in the spring allows the birch tree to send 'sprouts from her roots' down into the earth. There, the tree provides food for fungi that carry messages to the fir and pine trees close by. The messages are warnings for the coming days. When the forest trees need water during the heat of the summer, the fungi release water to help. Thus, they sustain each other. Scientists today are looking to see if the same thing happens between other tree species. 

While explaining what is happening underground, the author also tells the story of the trees themselves and how they provide much of what is important to forest life. Seasons come and go, and the needs of the trees change. Within the forest, wild animals find support, mushrooms grow, and the aspen trees prosper through the year's cycle. After many years of sharing and caring for the forest community, Mother Aspen has lived a good life. It is her time to breathe her last. 

"As the Mother Tree takes her last breath, 
she passes on her wisdom to the next generation. 

Fungi spread the news through her vast underground threads. 
Our mother is dead."

The true beauty of the forest is clearly shown in artwork created using digital paint and layered textures. The aspen grove comes to life through the seasons. Each illustrated page helps readers understand the science the author provides. 

Back matter includes an author's note that further explains the cooperation that exists through the seasons to keep forests vibrant and viable. On another informative page, she speaks to the importance of aspen groves because of their biodiversity, and the destruction created when companies do their best to destroy them. A list of print and video resources is appended. 

Wake Up, Little Pin: The Story of a Sleepy Sapling. Written by Loretta Garbutt and illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. Owlkids, 2024. $21.95 ages 4 and up

"That bright morning, Little Pin Oak stretched the tips
of his young limbs wide and reached as high as he could
with the top of his crown. After a long winter’s sleep,
the sun felt good. The young tree was wide awake now."

Before the story begins, Ms. Garbutt tells her audience: 

"When I first learned about the importance of mother trees
in the forest and how they helped their young saplings grow, 
I was amazed."

That was the impetus for this story about a mother tree and her sleepy offspring. When Great Mother Pin Oak awakens in the spring, she does what all do after a long sleep. She stretches and reaches as high as she can. At her side, Little Pin Oak is still asleep. 

Mother Pin has things to do. She satisfies her thirst while enjoying the early sun. Only then does she wonder why Little Pin is so quiet. She whispers gently to her sapling. Pin sleeps on. Knowing the wee tree needs help, she continues to encourage movement. Finally, she turns to the forest for help. 

She calls out to Red Squirrel for help to spread the news that Little Pin will not wake up. A meeting with Vole leads to Vole digging some extra tunnels to help nourishment reach Little Pin's roots. As signs of spring continue, birds and birdsong are sure to help wake the tiny tree. Melting ice drips water to provide a drink. Nothing seems to make the difference needed. 

"Mother Pin signaled to the dark, rich earth - 
her medicine cabinet and storehouse of goodness
right below her roots. "Fungi, we need your vitamins
and minerals to give Little Pin more strength. Some of 
my sugars will help, too."" 

With the help afforded by fungi threads, a porcupine's scat, and warm sunlight, Little Pin gets just what is needed to finally awaken to the beauty of the season and the opportunity for growth. 

Digital illustrations, using green, brown and gray, fill spreads with welcome scenes from the forest habitat as spring awakens all that live and thrive there. Back matter adds further facts about forest life and offers a reading list for those who would like to know more.