Tove Under the Tree by Julie Benbassat, Larissa Theule
Published by Candlewick Press on 10/14/25
ISBN: 1536232815
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

When Tove gets home from school, she is devastated to discover that the ficus tree growing in her yard has been cut down by the city because the tree is mostly dead.  When Tove finds a little branch that missed the wood chipper, she takes it inside and decides to grow a tree.  She plants the tree on her head and it magically grows very quickly.  Many people in her neighborhood, who also love the tree, are sad to see the tree come down and help Tove in her quest.  She needs all the help she can get because the tree on top of her head makes it difficult to move.

This is a gentle story about neighbors supporting neighbors while caring for nature. The neighbors who help her have different cultural backgrounds and gender identities, and are a variety of ages. The bright, colorful illustrations found on most pages help to make the magic real for readers.  The chapters are short, making this an ideal book for children who are starting to listen to longer books.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library