Trees are amazing. I loved climbing them as a child and, every now and then, I still do. My own two daughters would have climbed every tree they walked past if they could! Trees are nature’s climbing frame – full of majesty and hidden nooks. As sunlight travels through the layers of leaves, it makes sitting amongst the branches just magical. Trees have given me so much joy over the course of my life that I wanted to write a book that was a thank you to them.
So that was the starting point. I wanted Little Red to capture a child’s joy climbing a tree. Next, I thought about what other animals might thank Tree and so the swifts, insects, elephant and leopard then came into the story. Tree offers them food, a resting place, a back scratch and shade. Of course Little Red isn’t interested in any of these things! Little Red has to learn to value of Tree for himself and he discovers the power and support of a community coming together. I think this is a lesson we all have to learn and continue to practise many, many times. I know I can get caught up in my own life and what I’m doing and feel very possessive of my time and not want to offer it to someone else! Then I realise I get so much more back in terms of happiness, love and accomplishment if I do give some of my time to the people around me.
I love hiding details in my illustrations that I hope children will keep finding even after they have read the book many times. For example, throughout the illustrations, the caterpillars transform into butterflies, but if you look closely you can see them first munching the leaves, then building their chrysalises, then emerging and finally, in the last spread, flying away. Also, make sure you look out for the little grey squirrel, this character is hiding in every illustration. These extra hidden details are important to me because they allow a child who’s not yet able to read themselves, to participate in the story by ‘reading’ the pictures. They might see things that the adults don’t even notice.
I work in watercolour, crayon, pencil and ink and then bring my illustrations together digitally. I always start with real materials because it is so fun. Also, sometimes different paints and inks do unpredictable things. For example, I love the way water from a brush can swirl through paint or ink and make beautiful swirling shapes that are impossible to control. I use this a lot when I’m painting skies.
I hope you like Our Tree. I had a lot of fun making it. What would you thank a tree for?
