Memories of a Birch Tree

by Daniel Cañas, Blanca Millán (Illustrator), Jon Brokenbrow (Translator)

Memories of a Birch Tree is a story that invites readers to see adversities in life as opportunities, and to trust that change can help us grow, even when you least expect it.



The Story

Told from the perspective of the birch tree itself, Memories of a Birch Tree takes readers on an emotional journey of how new changes in life invite opportunities for growth. The story begins in a quiet neighborhood, surrounded by nature. One day, the tree is moved to the bustling city where the tree starts to become very homesick. Once the tree started to look for new aspects to appreciate in its life, like the friendly man who tends to the tree every day, the tree begins to enjoy its new environment and put down roots in its new home.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2022

Reviews

[CiarraL · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is told from the perspective of a birch tree that is uprooted from its serene and tranquil life in the forest and moved to a loud, bustling, crowded city. Throughout the book we see the birch tree learn to deal with the differences of his new environment, while also learning to appreciate his new surroundings. The book is about accepting change and making the best out of new circumstances. It also explores the difference between forest and city life. These differences are highlighted in the beautiful illustrations and colorful language used in the book to describe the different settings. The book has a great moral about dealing with change and it is an international book I think young children will enjoy because of its fun illustrations and relatable message. Memories of a Birch Tree was published in Spain and written by Daniel Cañas and illustrated by Blanca Millán. It was awarded at the Moonbeam Children`s Book Awards in 2022. It won the gold medal in the Picture Book 4-8 ​​years category. I discovered this book on the Cuento de Luz publishing site shared with me by my professor. Cuento de Luz publishes children’s books that promote peace, respecting differences, and caring for our planet.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is about a birch tree that grows up in the country and then gets transplanted to the city. The book shows how even though the birch tree struggles at first, it is able to take root in its new environment and become a blessing to other people. The message about dealing with change is powerful because the author never states it as a tidy moral, but conveys truths through the story itself.

The birch tree narrates the entire book, but there are also recurring human characters. At the beginning, a woman is pregnant with her son, and you see him grow up throughout the book. The ending provides a sweet, satisfying conclusion to both his and the tree's stories.

The writing is excellent and the illustrations are nice, with deep colors and lots of interesting details that kids can notice on repeat readings. There are a few pages where people's faces have weird proportions, and I found this distracting, but the illustrations are appealing overall and are a major part of telling the story. This book has lots of great elements, and it will appeal to kids and adults.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

A tale of homesickness and the different between the city and nature

[Cuentitis Crónica · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this picture book is a gift for the heart of all people who have to change their home or city. It gives hope for a better future.

[Cuentitis Crónica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este álbum ilustrado es un regalo para el corazón de todas las personas que tienen que cambiar de casa o de ciudad. Da esperanza de un futuro mejor. Sus ilustraciones juegan con el lector, y texto e imagen cuentan dos historias paralelas. Toda una maravilla editado en papel de piedra.