The Tree Next Door

by Charlie Moyles, Martin Staner (Illustrator)

A heart-warming tribute to community, nature and intergenerational friendship.

When a little girl moves into her new home, the first thing she notices is the magnificent tree next door.

Helping her neighbour tend to her garden through the seasons, the girl learns what an important place both the tree and her neighbour hold in the hearts of their community.

Genres: Picture Books

25 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice picture book about neighbours and seasons. A little girl moves to a house and notices the old lady next door loves her garden and is always busy growing and cooking. Seasons pass and when winter comes she notices that she hasn't seen the old lady for several days. I thought this was going to be a book about loss, but the authors were just misleading the adult reader. The little girl plans a celebration in the old ladies garden for all her neighbours. Although sadly this sort of community spirit rarely happens in real life, it was a good story and an enjoyable look at growing food, making friends and sharing.

[The Bookshop Mons · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Cute
- Lots of details to look into
- Thanksgiving inspired story

[Alanna Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful children's story, beautiful illustrations.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet picture book about community and nature which I liked!

It shares a very important message about being thoughtful and considerate of other people, as well as coming together as a community to do a kind deed.

The artwork is nice and the story was pleasant to read. It just wasn't a new favourite picture book for me personally.

I have a feeling child readers -- especially those who enjoy the outdoors and nature -- will like it more than I did.

[Harriet Sylvester · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, touches on seasons and the arrival of new neighbours, connection between different people

[Debs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trees are a testament to the power of nature. Often tall, strong, and sturdy they show us that they can withstand all weathers, all things. They shift and change with the seasons, they inspire peace and calm, offer homes to so much wildlife and are an integral part of all of us, even if we don’t always realize it. Maybe you have a tree in your garden, maybe it was there long before you, maybe it has stories to tell? Charlie Moyler’s The Tree Next Door is a delight. It is a celebration of not only nature, and of course trees, but also of community. Simply executed illustrations by Martin Stanev add a touch of the classic feel to the story and at the same time bring it to life with the way in which they supplement the words of the story and show us just how important one tree can be to a whole community of people.

At the end of a long garden there was a tree, taller than everything around it the tree could be seen and admired by many. It was cared for by its owner, an old but strong and happy lady who loved the company of her garden and its tree. This tree may have been surrounded by apartments and homes, but it made all those who lived in these places so very happy and when, one winter day, a new family arrived one little girl found herself drawn to the tree and its garden. From that day forward the girl visited the garden come rain or shine. She would ask questions and she learnt about the changing of the seasons - smelling the blossoms of the spring, hearing the buzzing of the bees, tasting the sweetness of the summer jams and enjoying the autumn leaves. But when Winter came once more the little girl wondered - would the old lady be lonely without her garden to care for in the cold? She has a plan…