Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree

by Mary Murphy

All living creatures have a special place in the world in this extraordinary exploration of the concept of self for very young readers.

Only I know how to be me.
Only you know how to be you.

Trees have leaves that turn sunshine into food. Amazing! Birds build nests, sing songs, hatch eggs, and fly. Dogs are our friends and can move their ears to tell us how they feel, while fish live in water, flashing like jewels. As for people, every person on Earth is different, each with their own thoughts and feelings. With a simple narrative and joyful, welcoming illustrations celebrating a world full of remarkable creatures, Mary Murphy reminds little ones that we are all unique, and that we are the only ones who know how to be us.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Nature, Environment, Science

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 10, 2020

About the author

Children's author and illustrator Mary Murphy enchants even the youngest of readers with her bold style, combining eye-catching graphics and a bouncy text that seemingly jump off the pages.

Mary Murphy has an advanced diploma in Visual Communications and has written and illustrated a number of children's books, including her lift-the-flap, pull-the-tab book about friendship, ROXIE AND BO TOGETHER. In addition to creating children's books, she teaches illustration. The author-illustrator lives in Galway, Ireland.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book not just about trees...but birds, fish, water, and many other things we coexist with. All unique, just like people. We’re all different, and only you know how to be you!

We loved the simple text and illustrations. Great for young readers.

4****

[James Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple, but warm and heartfelt starting out with a tree. Readers will travel near and far, visiting plants and animals and people from all over the world. I was fascinated by the sweet, colorful, "imperfect" illustrations. So charming. The kind a child my attempt to recreate on a rainy Sunday. The pages are filled with so much color, variety and diversity, kids will discover something new each time they read this. From a tree, all the way around the world and beyond. Great for any young reader.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about individuality and interconnectedness. I love how it talks about trees, certain animals, the whole earth, then brings it back to humans (you and me!). The bright illustrations are very child friendly, there is some cute voiceyness in the text, and I like the repeated cadence of "Only a ___ knows how to be a ___" (tree, dog, earth, etc).

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, the illustrations are adorable The simple shapes create charming characters and the swirls that make up the tree are enlivening. This is a great book to accompany with yoga poses-and the movement will help the facts stick even more. This book draws connection between all living things to planet earth, the cosmos and the infinity of imagination.

[Maria Caplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love the illustrations and font choice. Love love love the message. Perfect first PB for beginning of the year endless writing opportunities and opening for conversations. Bonus: connections for science

[J.L. Slipak · Rating 5 out of 5]

All living creatures have a special place in the world in this extraordinary exploration of the concept of self for very young readers.

Only I know how to be me.
Only you know how to be you.

Trees have leaves that turn sunshine into food. Amazing! Birds build nests, sing songs, hatch eggs, and fly. Dogs are our friends and can move their ears to tell us how they feel, while fish live in water, flashing like jewels. As for people, every person on Earth is different, each with their own thoughts and feelings. With a simple narrative and joyful, welcoming illustrations celebrating a world full of remarkable creatures, Mary Murphy reminds little ones that we are all unique, and that we are the only ones who know how to be us.

Out March 2020

32 Pages

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book has a lovely message about diversity, value of life and differences that should be celebrated. My mom has a saying, “Everything has a place, and there’s a place for everything.” The story in this book reminds me of this.

I teach my special needs daughter that it’s okay to be different from all the rest. Being the same is boring. Think how unique and special you are because you are you, and not like someone else. What makes you special, is not being Down syndrome, but because there is no else in the entire world exactly like you. And that is what makes you special. People can try and tell you how you should act, feel, look like, and think… but only you know all those things about you. This is what makes you a leader among others instead of just another follower.

I hope this is what parents teach their toddlers when sitting with them and reading this book together.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only a Tree Knows how to be a tree goes talks about the simple tasks that only certain things can do. It talks about the different jobs of plants, animals, oceans, and people. It tells us that all these things are different from one another but can still come together to form a beautiful world.

I love the illustrations in this book because it focuses on the diversity of humans. There is one page where there are probably 75 kids, just being kids, it shows how everyone looks different and likes their own activity. It also is a good way to show kids the bigger picture in a simple way of how life all works together.

I would use this book at the beginning of the year so that I can set the precedent that we are all different in our own ways and that it is ok to be you. If I ever saw someone bullying another over something, this would be a good book to explain that we are not all the same. It is a very good book to use to explain that only you know how to be you.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Murphy is from Dublin, Ireland, wrote this lovely text which needs to be read aloud and seen! She states that she used brush and ink rendered digitally to illustrate. The book throughout is gleeful, celebrating trees, fish, dogs, the earth, and each of us, the only ones who truly know how to be themselves. In the part about dogs, they "flick water into their mouth to drink./I can't do that, but then/only a dog knows/how to be a dog." Endpapers are filled with all kinds of people and trees, water, too in a swirl of a crowd of those things, Being Them! I'd love to read this aloud to discover what readers would create with other things, knowing what a particular thing knows how to be. What a fun book that emphasizes individuality!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing I assumed this book would be about was a tree just by looking at the title. But this book really shares a strong message about how we as humans can only be ourselves and we are all individuals. They use illustrations of other kids to really talk to kid readers or listeners. Another thing I like is that it teaches readers about the Earth and how climate and seasons work. While illustrating in colors between Day and night and the animals in each setting. This book talks about all sorts of animals and explains their characteristics and lifestyles. The author and illustrator really worked together to teach Geology to young children in ways they’d understand. I believe this would be a good book for a second or Third grader.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art and style are recognizably Mary Murphy's which makes a great start for choosing this book for children. I generally love her books and sharing them in programming and with preschool teachers over the years. This concept may be a little harder for young children to understand than some of her others (How Kind comes to mind), but I am sure this will be a better choice for my K-3 grade classes looking for read alouds. I can see this sparking great discussion amongst the kids in lesson plans about living/non-living things, about respecting nature and each other, etc.

[Jennifer Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about loving all the nature around us how special nature is and the we are. This book is also empowering us to be ourselves and embrace our uniqueness.

I like this because it's empowering for young kids to love themselves and you learn a little about nature and animals in the process. There is also a good representation of kids.

This book would be good in a classroom to learn about to confident in who you are, and embracing other people around you.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of living things, including humans, are described, followed by the refrain that only they know how to be them.

This picture book celebrates life on Earth beginning with trees and ending with humans. The illustrations are wonderfully inclusion, depicting children from diverse cultural backgrounds as well as children with disabilities.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about different things in the world (tree, water, fish) that only know how to be them/it. It has a good message about not judging people (you'll most likely have to explain this to children). The illustrations aren't my favorite.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murphy uses simple language and illustrations to show her point that each of us are the best at being ourselves. She begins with trees and moves through animals, etc. until coming to humans. Gentle way to present this point to younger readers.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that if done badly can feel so preachy and over the top.
Fortunately, it's done really well. My kid has been carrying it around reading it over and over. He likes the dogs but I think he also just finds it soothing.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though its refrain is repetitive, this story offers a basic introduction to ecology and psychology for young readers who have begun to notice the diversity of the world around them. Colorful, dynamic illustrations give preschoolers plenty to look at as the story unfolds.

[Colorado Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

philosophical read. goes through lots of different things - only earth knows how to be earth, only trees can be trees, fish, fish, water, water, birds, birds, and us, us. nature stuff in here a lot, simple phrases.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost lost me at "only water knows how to be water" but the ending is "Only I know how to be me. And only you know how to be you." And that is a very important message. Art and design will appeal to most.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author, Mary Murphy, celebrates the uniqueness of all things. From trees, to fish, to us!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The special place all living creatures have in the world.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celebrates diversity, and ecology, in words and text. I don't love the very simple style of illustrations.

[Suzi Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!! Great book for writing lesson from 1-3 grades

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tree knows how to be a tree, a dog knows how to be a dog, you know what it's like to be you and I know what it's like to be me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid story about being yourself with playful illustations

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan of illustrations. Could be used by Kindergarten teachers in their Myself and Others social studies units.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice message.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate what the book was trying to accomplish but it misses the mark for me. I did like the diverse representation of characters. I found most of the text to be kind of bland.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw the message coming from a mile away, but it was still lovely and affirming. Good read aloud for pre-K/K.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try this one with movement and repetition for storytime.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good message. Illustrations not my favorite, but Noah likes the bold colors.