The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536223298
Pages: 32
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

In Aaron Becker’s latest wordless book, we watch an interaction unfold between nature and the growth of civilization. What starts as a house built and populated by one family becomes two communities (one red, one blue). As it evolves, the settlements become walled fortresses, and eventually grow into steam-punkish cities. Through this transformation, the  natural world is subsumed but eventually has the last word (or image, in this case). It feels like a fantasy but reads like a fable, a cautionary tale about taking from the land without giving back.

Becker’s line drawings (created with pencil, gouache, and digital paint) tells the story of The Tree and the River, with his award-winning expertise. Each detailed, full-bleed, double-spread image tells the story of that moment, but with the continuity and detail that creates a through-line for attentive readers. This is a book designed to provoke thought, questions, and critical thinking. It is a wonderful book for one reader to pore over slowly, page by page, or for a class “read-aloud”; it could work with a middle school social studies class learning about the elements of civilization.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS Young School Librarian, Saco ME