I'M LIKE A TREE AND A TREE'S LIKE ME

A child and a tree grow and develop side by side.

“I am a seed…I fatten and grow…I begin to become what I will be.” Thus starts a journey juxtaposing two different yet intertwined experiences. A seed is planted in the ground, and a human egg is fertilized. As time progresses, child and tree enter the world. Both flourish thanks to their resilience and their connection to one another: The pink-skinned child waters the tree, and the tree in turn offers the youngster shelter. Translated from French, Jaoui’s conversational text is spare yet playful as child and tree comment on their similarities (“I need fresh water.” “Me too!”). Crahay’s watercolorlike art is simultaneously majestic and quirky, with sweet-faced insects or snails smiling up at readers. Simple but effective die cuts appear on nearly every spread. At one point, the child declares, “I need warmth,” while circular holes on the page cleverly evoke the sun’s rays, with delicate yellows and greens peeking through. As the child embraces the tree (“I am one of Earth’s children”), a diverse group of youngsters hug trees of their own, chiming in (“Me too”) in different languages and sending an affirming message: Despite our perceived differences, each of us is truly “one of Earth’s children.”

Much like life itself, this story is a gift that deserves to be shared.