THE PEACOCK TREE

In Pearl’s picture book, a beloved tree and a centuries-old castle share a storied pastoral history.

A majestic tree stands in a field miles away from the bustling city of London, England. Local children climb its branches, sit high among its leaves, and rest beneath its shaded canopy. As darkness approaches, colorful peahens and peacocks perch upon its limbs for shelter while the children and their families fall sleep in their homes. It is during this quiet time that the tree shares memories of times past with the castle (Woodcroft Castle, a real-life edifice that dates back to the 13th century) upon whose grounds it was planted. They recount how the castle came to be and reminisce about simpler times. (“Together, they remember when there were no trains or cars or planes. When there was only sun and night and wrong and right.”) As day breaks, the children rush to feed the peacocks and peahens and return to their favorite tree. Pearl’s soft pastel illustrations, which have a grainy texture, suit the story’s pastoral setting, and pages incorporating black-and-white shadow play effectively represent the historic battles waged at Woodcroft Castle. The text is written in brief poetic stanzas. Alluding to Woodcroft’s fractious history, the author sets the stage for the message she hopes to impart to her readers: Care should be taken with humans, animals, trees…and all living things.

A warm, heartfelt paean to a leafy refuge for beautiful birds and happy children.