2024 Skipping Stones Honor Awards

In her morning exploration, a curious child discovers a little tree in the middle of a desert. So begins a tender friendship that finds delight in simplicity and wonder while both the child and tree learn and grow. In an unexpected twist, a storm uncovers parts of the ancient tree that were hidden under the sand. After the child succeeds in planting a new little forest -with the tree's guidance- their sweet adventure comes to an end when the child's family needs to leave.

A moving ode to natural beauty and the wisdom of our truest nature, this heartwarming story invites us to see the world from a new perspective and from a unique place. Interwoven in the fiction are some facts about the care of trees in unlikely circumstances, revealing an ever-present hope for survival.

Beautifully depicted in colorful illustrations and lyrical text, social and environmental awareness come together in a story that touches on migration, resilience, forest regeneration, and individual empowerment.

An ideal book for everyone who loves trees and hopes for better times!

Perfect for fans and frenemies of:

The Giving TreeThe Lorax

Perfect for fans of:

WALL-EPeter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees and Peter and the Tree ChildrenSir David Attenborough's Life on Earth series

Great for parents and teachers looking for:

children's books about trees and appreciation of naturepicture books about children's migration, resilience, and empowerment

A Spanish language version, Alma Semilla, is also available.

FREE downloadable materials include the list 365 Hugs for the Planet, coloring pages, and a teaching guide.