Author(s): Emma Carlisle

Plants | Picture | Trees

Immerse yourself in this gentle picture book that encourages us to explore our connection with nature.

What do you see when you look at a tree? Leaves and twigs and branches?
Or do you see a real, living thing, That moves, and breathes and dances?

This wonderful picture book explores themes of empathy, mindfulness and personal growth through the eyes of a child. Beautifully written and illustrated by the award-winning artist Emma Carlisle, What Do You See When You Look At a Tree? urges readers to reconnect with nature by asking questions that encourage critical thinking and reflection on their own development, as well as helping to establish a deeper appreciation for the environment and their place within it.

Stunning watercolour and hand-finished artwork draws parallels to the bestselling The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, and evokes the classic nostalgia of E. H. Shephard's much-loved Winnie-the-Pooh.

Mindfulness tips and information about trees are included at the back of the book for both adult and child to read together.

Review: This book is a stunning celebration of all things tree and we loved it. The rich and evocative illustrations have been created using a beautiful matte palette which really brings each page to life with autumnal warmth and summer shine. The words, which rhyme for the most part, are kept minimal; along with the gorgeous illustrations, Emma Carlisle deftly takes us on a reflective and respectful journey. We follow a lovely little girl as she interacts with the different environments that feature in her world. We see snapshots of her relationships with family members unfolding under the shade of the trees which provide the elegant framework of each scene. Trees are in many ways the shape of our landscapes and Carlisle encourages the reader to consider their own relationships with the trees that form such an important part of our daily lives. She captures the aesthetics of the changing seasons and explores the diverse forms of trees. She shows trees as habitats for animals, microcosms of life, and as having a particular affinity with children, capturing something special in the young imagination. Our favourite section was at the back of the book where we learnt about the wood world web and how trees communicate with one another through their root systems. We also loved the pages on 'How to be more like a tree' which gives invaluable advice for us all such as 'Spread your roots' and 'Take your time'. This is a beautiful, must-read picture book for any nature lovers, and aspiring artists. It will undoubtedly provoke many warm, wonderful moments shared between parent and child as we marvel at the abundant variety and spectacular beauty of the trees which thankfully, grace and enrich our world. -- Stephanie Robertson * Armadillo Magazine *
What Do You See When You Look At A Tree? by Emma Carlisle (Big Picture) is a special book about something very dear to our hearts - trees! Created in association with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, this gorgeous volume will make you think about nature in new ways! * Storytime Magazine *

Author Biography: Emma Carlisle is a highly acclaimed illustrator and artist, living in Falmouth, UK. She graduated in 2011 from University of Plymouth with a First Class Hons in Illustration, and in 2014 from the Cambridge School of Art with an MA in Children's Book Illustration. She is also a lecturer in Children's Illustration at the University of Plymouth.

In 2013, Emma was Highly Commended for the Macmillan Book Prize and in 2015 her first book Lion Practice was nominated for a number of awards, including the Kate Greenaway and the Klaus Flugge Prize. She has two books published with Macmillan.