By Aaron Becker (author) , Aaron Becker (illustrator)
"Beautiful and engrossing look at man’s impact on the earth"
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
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Winner of the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration and the Shadowers' Choice Medal
Prize winning author Becker is known as a master of the wordless picture book – and this latest volume is no exception. It is a series of time lapse images of the life in a valley on the banks of a long and winding river. It is not set in any particular country – and takes architectural styles from an amalgamation of different times and countries – thus it is relevant to everyone.
Mankind’s advances are reflected in the amount of building, growing industries, and enmities between neighbouring towns. The development of urban sprawl in other words, but depicted in such detailed, and to start with, entirely beautiful spreads that we are beguiled. As the book progresses, we see the damage and the destruction that man and nature can inflict as they are abused and ignored in search of ‘progress’.
The illustrations are so detailed the reader can spend a long time looking at each spread, noting the good and the bad changes, seeing the effect these changes have on the tree that grows in the crook of a river bend. Until finally the tree seems wrecked with the civilisation that stood around it. That is, until we see one tiny acorn from our dying tree fall into the river, travel downstream a short way and find fertile ground in which to bury itself and the cycle of growth and recovery can start again.
The river and trees are the witness to the folly of man – but also the witness to the new birth and growth. An ultimately uplifting look at what we are doing to our world – to make us pause and think. A spectacular read that will thrill readers of 5 to 95 equally.
A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind - and our impact on the natural world - from a Caldecott Honor-winning master of the wordless form.
Read the full description
For his latest feat of visual storytelling, the acclaimed creator of the Journey trilogy invents, in staggering detail, a familiar world layered with imaginary civilizations.
Borrowing from multiple cultures and architectural styles to craft astonishing new humanscapes, Aaron Becker tracks the evolution of our species - and its toll on the Earth - through the fates of a lone tree and an enduring river. River and tree bear silent witness over time as people arrive to harness water, wind, and animals; devise technology and transportation; redirect rivers; and reshape the land.
Timely and ultimately hopeful, this wordless epic invites readers to pore over spreads densely packed with visual drama.
Fans of Journey, Quest , and Return will leap at a new chance to uncover sophisticated layers of meaning, marvel at intricate details - from holographic billboards to flying machines - and see our precious shared world through fresh eyes.
Stunning, thought-provoking wordless picture book. - the Bookseller
Aaron Becker has worked as an artist for film studios such as Lucasfilm, Disney and Pixar to help define the look and feel of characters, stories and the films they become a part of. With Journey he has created characters and worlds of his very own, using traditional materials and techniques.
His book The Tree and the River won the double Carnegie Medal in 2024.
Aaron Becker lives in the USA in Amherst, Massachusetts, with his wife, daughter and cat.
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A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind - and our impact on the natural world - from a Caldecott Honor-winning master of the wordless form. For his latest feat of visual storytelling, the acclaimed creator of the Journey trilogy invents, in staggering detail, a familiar world layered with imaginary civilizations.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Tree and the River and determined it is suitable for children aged 5-10 years old
The Tree and the River features in the following genres: Ecological and Environmental Interest - Fiction, Recommendations, Featured Books for 7+ readers, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Star Books, The Natural World, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 5+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Tree and the River was written by Aaron Becker and published by Walker Books Ltd
The Tree and the River has 32 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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