The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind – and our impact on the natural world – from an award-winning master of the wordless form.

WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR ILLUSTRATION AND SHADOWERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION 2024.

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.

[Aaron Becker's] beautiful, super-detailed artwork is the perfect igniter of class discussion as children are empowered to think and decide where the story might go[…] Becker’s books are a breath of fresh air in a shouty market that is so often overrun with crude digital printouts […] As with the best illustrators, the more you look, the more you see. Another huge achievement. -- Alex O'Connell * The Times *
Stunning, thought-provoking wordless picture book. * the Bookseller *
I like this book as it is different, it has only pictures. It is nice to spot the tree and river on each page and see how they change when I turn the page. -- Theo age 3 * Kids Book Reviews, Books Up North *
This is a book to inspire conversation with young readers. * Books for Keeps *
There is so much to admire in this epic picture book which rewards multiple careful re-readings in order to notice more of the details Becker has included. The buildings, vehicles and costumes do not belong to any particular culture and at times take on an otherworldly quality reminiscent of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival. This unfamiliar visual vocabulary gives a universality to Becker’s story. Above all, it is good to read books for younger readers which deal seriously with environmental issues but also convey a hopeful message. * Just Imagine *

Aaron Becker is the best-selling author of the award-winning Journey trilogy and other books for children young and old, including The Tree and the River, which won the Yoto Carnegie Medal and Shadowers' Choice for Illustration 2024, A Stone for Sascha and The Last Zookeeper. When he’s not home with his wife and two daughters, he can be found creating something new in his backyard studio in western Massachusetts.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781529516760
ISBN 10	1529516765
Title	The Tree and the River
Author	Aaron Becker
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Walker Books Ltd
Year published	2024-04-04
Number of pages	32
Prizes	Short-listed for Carnegie (CILIP) 2024 (UK), Short-listed for New England Book Awards 2023 (United States)
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.