Albert's Tree by Jenni Desmond

Never, never underestimate the power of a great story twist! And appealing illustrations and brilliant end papers. This book has it all. Jenni Desmond - well done!

Look at that face on the cover. Bear looks so content. We can guess he has found HIS tree! 

"Spring had arrived and Albert woke from his long sleep. 'Horray!' he shouted. As the snow was quietly turning to water and trickling down from the mountains, Albert raced to his favourite place. His tree."

This tree is perfect. Not too hard, soft, slippery or prickly. This is a place of peace and quiet.

BUT all readers know that at this point there is sure to be a complication. And yes, there is. Albert hears a noise. It sounds as though his tree is crying. Albert decides to ask his forest friends. Rabbit explains that digging holes makes him happy so the pair of friends dig lots of holes but the tree keeps crying. The Caribous suggests gathering lots of grass because it is delicious to eat but the tree keeps crying. The crying becomes louder and more intense.

Bear is at a loss what to do so he climbs his tree and he "gave the tree a huge, kind, bear hug." There are ten more pages in this book but I don't want to spoil the surprise. Bear does make a discovery about his tree but I am certain you will never guess the truth. This is a book you should add to your read aloud list. It would be perfect to share with a preschool group.

The picture book is as cozy and familiar as a teddy bear’s embrace, but smart touches elevate the story. They include vignettes against white space that contrast beautifully with more detailed and colorful spreads that give a wider view of the world around Albert. And by naming Albert alone of the characters, Desmond keeps readers’ sympathies squarely on the well-meaning mammal. If that weren’t enough, the endpapers include a lovely cutaway view of underground hibernation and a hilarious offhand joke that add beauty and charm, respectively, to an already endearing effort. There are lots of children’s books about cute bears who talk like people, but few are as cleverly put together and as witty as Albert’s little adventure. Kirkus Star review

Here are some other books by Jenni Desmond:

I have previously talked about these:

Puffin 

On the Night of the Shooting Star

The Zebra who ran too fast

Puffin by Martin Jenkins illustrated by Jenni Desmond

Publisher blurb: Everyone recognises the puffin, with its black and white feathers and brightly colored bill. But how does the puffin live? What happens down in its burrow? And how do the male and female share the task of feeding and caring for their young? Discover the intriguing world of this charming bird in a collaboration that pairs Martin Jenkins’s engaging, informative text with the warm energy of Jenni Desmond’s illustrations. Filled with interesting facts, this delightful introduction to the puffin offers young ornithologists more details in the back matter.

This book is from the Nature Storybook series (previously called Read and Wonder) from Walker Books. Some are produced here in Australia, while others, like this one from the UK. This book was a gift for my birthday last week - an utterly perfect present for a huge puffin fan like me!

My journey into the world of puffins began with Puffling. I actually thought puffins were 'made-up'. Of course I knew the famous book company Puffin Books (part of Penguin). Once I discovered puffins were real I set about investigating a way to see them. In 2015 I travelled to Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle and YES because I went at the right time of year (May) I saw so many puffins and I was able to take hundreds of photos too.

Here are a few puffin facts:

• There are three kinds of puffins - Crested Puffin; Horned Puffin and Atlantic Puffin
• You can find puffins in the northern hemisphere - Greenland; Newfoundland; the northern coasts of Europe and even as far south as Maine in the US.
• Puffins show affection by rubbing their beaks together - this is called beaking
• Their favourite food is sand eels
• A baby puffin is called a puffling
• Puffins spend most of their lives out at sea 
• Their beak changes from grey to bright orange in Spring
• If you feel like a laugh listen to some puffins (this used to make my students roar with laughter)

About the author: Martin Jenkins was born in Surrey in 1959 but grew up in Spain, Ireland and Kent. Martin became involved with children’s books when he was asked to advise on Walker Books’ Animals at Risk series. Since then he has written several titles, including Emperor's Egg, winner of the Times Junior Information Book of the Year Award and Fly Traps! Plants that Bite Back, which was shortlisted for the same award. He has also retold Gulliver's Travels, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and Don Quixote.

About the illustrator: Jenni Desmond is a picture book maker based in Hackney, London UK.  In 2016 she was made a Maurice Sendak Fellow and her book The Polar Bear won a prestigious New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books award. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages. She has a passion for books and believes that picture books are essential for nurturing young imaginations.  Jenni does not think picture books should be limited to children, and hopes her own books will also appeal to older people with youthful minds. Jenni works by hand using mixed media and finishes her artwork digitally.  

The Zebra who ran too Fast

On the Night of the Shooting Star

The Zebra who ran too Fast by Jenni Desmond

Zebra, Elephant and Bird are three good friends. They have terrific fun together but one day Zebra just wants to run and run and Elephant and Bird are left behind. The next day Zebra's friends do not want to play with him any more. How can these three good friends rediscover the importance of their friendship? And what might happen if a fourth friend wants to join in? This book is perfect for preschoolers and Kindergarten children navigating new friendships. 

This weekend Lifeline held one of their book fairs.  These events are so well organised with thousands of book treasures to explore. I went twice and spent $120 on over 60 books. My friend from kinderbookswitheverything spotted The Zebra who ran too Fast (2014) by Jenni Desmond. I have added to a pile of books I am planning to gift to a very small regional school. 

I loved a previous book illustrated by Jenni Desmond - On the night of the Shooting Star.

Here are some other books by Jenni Desmond:

On the night of the Shooting Star by Amy Hest illustrated by Jenni Desmond

On the night of the Shooting Star is a deceptively simply picture book with a profound message, all done with joyous illustrations. Take time to notice all the tiny details. I spent a long time on the first few pages. Kindergarten children will enjoy this book but you could also share it with an older group as a way to discuss community and communication.

Bunny lives in her hutch-shaped home on one side of the fence. Her garden is over grown with grass and she has a carrot patch on her roof.  Dog lives in his round house next door. His lawn is neatly mowed and he has a small boxed flower bed. Beyond their houses is a beautiful river with swan boats and gentle rolling hills. It looks like an idyllic place to live.

Inside their homes we discover more about each character.  Bunny's home looks very comfortable. She has a little rabbit night light, rabbit salt and pepper shakers and a bed complete with rabbit ears head board.  She loves to drink cocoa.

Dog's home is also cosy. He has his knitting, a beautiful floor rug with a border of dogs, dog salt and pepper shakers and his night light is a paw print.  He loves to eat biscuits.

Each day Dog shyly observes Bunny and Bunny, equally shyly, looks over at Dog and at night both check for the window lights on the other side of the fence. Seasons come and go but no one says hello "or let's have a picnic today."

Then one sleepless night, when both Rabbit and Dog are out in their gardens, they see a shooting star. This is such an important shared experience.

"On the night of the shooting star, two doors open.
Bunny carries cocoa in cups, carefully to the fence, where Dog is waiting with a basketful of biscuits."

Did I mention Dog was knitting? Wait until you see what he has made!

Huge thanks to my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything for sharing this wonderful book with me.

I was recently listening to a radio interview about modern life and the way neighbours no longer connect with one another.  The commentator blamed our busy lives and life in apartment complexes.  Where I live there are many apartments and I certainly don't know more than one or two people out of more than fifty people who live here. There is no sense of community let alone friendly communication as evidenced by the 'rule' signs around the garbage bins! Perhaps we need a shared experience like the one in this book so our homes and lives might open up to our neighbours.

Amy Hest is the author of nearly fifty books many of which are brilliant picture books such as the Baby Duck series and books about Sam . She also has two novels -  Remembering Mrs Rossi and Letters to Leo.

A beautiful lyrical story with some truly lovely artwork from blog favourite Jenni Desmond, this is a feelgood story that might just make you sit up and think how nice it'd be to get to know the people you live near or next door to.  Read it Daddy

A gentle, empathetic tribute to the value of reaching out to welcome a new friend. Kirkus