What a precious, love-filled book! One can tell that trees have a special place in author Laura Gehl's heart. The story is about a sweet young girl named Britta and her certainty that her two favorite trees, Apple and Magnolia, are best friends. Apple gave gifts to Magnolia, and Magnolia waved at Apple. The book is filled with the wonder and joy of nature and the connection between all living things. Patricia Metola's illustrations are glorious and full of pastel beauty. From the melodic flow of the words to the joyous, colorful illustrations, this book is a marvel that shows that "unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all."
Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, Flyaway Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

This story is about a family and their two trees. Brita is a little girl who is absolutely positive that the trees talk to each other. Not only do they talk to each other but they’re friends. Her dad tells her nicely when he doesn’t believe her. Her sister tells her not so nicely when she doesn’t believe her. But Brita still believes. And she sets out to prove that she’s correct. I really liked the intro to this book where the author gives a little bit of information about trees in real life and it just helps push this sweet story into something that will want to be read over and over again. The illustrations are unique mainly because they look like they were illustrated by a child. A good child but a child, so you feel that this is the story of a child for a child. ( )

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. I also received a signed finished hardcover from the publisher at the ALA Annual 2022 conference. ( )

Apple and Magnolia

Britta’s 2 favorite trees, an apple and a magnolia, are best friends, and Britta visits and watches them every day, sometimes dancing under the stars with the swaying trees. Her father, nicely, does not believe her, and sister Bronwyn, not so nicely, concurs. But Nana is quietly encouraging, saying ”Unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all”. When Magnolia is ailing, her father says it will not survive the winter, but Nana asks if Britta has a plan. Britta creates a string-and-cup telephone and knits a long scarf so the trees can feel each other’s warmth, and hangs a string of lights so the trees can see each other even on moonless nights.
In a fanciful turn, Britta notices the tees touching each other, and then moving closer. She begins to hope, and although Magnolia’s flowers are late, she does indeed bloom, and “Britta’s hope blossomed too.”
Softly colored illustrations are full of whimsy and touchingly evocative, with faith, friendship, and hope shining through.

The author notes before the title page that trees can indeed help each other and communicate,
and plant science discoveries are the inspiration for the story. Interested adults can learn more from the work of Suzanne Simard.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review ( )

I believe plants are second only to water as the scariest things we allow to be around us on a regular basis. They act all innocent and uninvolved, but as this horror book shows, they communicate and conspire in ways we are only just beginning to understand.

Just this week, the tree across the street was revealed to be systematically destroying my connection to the city sewer in its greed to swill the water I am trying to get the hell out of my house. I tell that bastard he owes me thousands of dollars, and he just stands there all aloof, shaking his leaves at me, shooing me away.

Damned plants. ( )