The Tree and the River

[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 *The Tree and the River is a wordless jewel with several layers…Each double-page spread – featuring the same plot of land from the same viewpoint – holds a myriad of details that invite readers to create elaborate background stories for all the tiny characters depicted… Simply stunning. * The White Ravens 2024 *This is a book to inspire conversation with young readers. * Books for Keeps *You’ll find yourself reading it over and over again in a never-ending cycle, focusing on a different story each time. There are hours of entertainment in this brilliant book and plenty of both current and relevant themes, ranging from our role in climate change to the difficulties of war and the ultimate purpose of civilization. – Children’s Books Ireland * Reading Matters Guide *

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.