The Tree That’s Meant to Be; Yuval Zommer

Ask my wife and she will tell you that I am a nightmare to go Christmas tree shopping with. She will regale you with a tale from one particular December day when I left her holding a tree that I had looked at, ruled out and then wandered off without telling her that it was the tree that’s not meant to be. If only I had read Yuval Zommer’s book beforehand I would have appreciated the beauty in every tree.

In a forest, a little tree stands out from the others. It struggles to grow as the other trees do, standing in the shadows of its taller brothers and sisters with branches uneven and leaning to one side. One snowy day, the people came to choose their trees. While the others left, the little imperfect tree remained. Eventually it was all alone. But it wouldn’t be alone for long as some visitors who could see beauty where others could not would make one little tree feel very special indeed…

Perfectly imperfect tree finds its place in the world in a gorgeous winter’s tale. Full of the colours of nature and adorable woodland animals, The Tree That’s Meant to Be will warm hearts in a joyous seasonal celebration of the natural world and life-affirming messages of love and kindness, celebrating individuality and embracing the different paths that life’s journey brings.

This is a magical read that you can get lost in for hours. Lyrical words carry readers through the seasons and Yuval’s spectacular scenes are a sight to behold. Lush shades of green and brown paint the beauty of nature whilst vast white spaces create a winter wonderland. There is so much to spot; leaves, berries, seeds, feathers, insects and birds. It is as much a study in the wonder of the natural world as it is a seasonal tale of a lonely tree.

Presented as an oversized hardback, families will want to return to this time and time again. Definitely one to leave out on the coffee table or under the Christmas tree as the front cover, with its glittering tree set upon a festive red background, will attract any visitors to take a peek inside. Tree-mendous!

Recommended for 3+.