- Picture Books
- Ages 3–7
- Nature
What Do You See When You Look At a Tree?
Award-winning artist Emma Carlisle invites children to slow down and really look at a tree, wondering what it has witnessed, who has sheltered beneath it and how they might become a little more tree-like themselves. A mindful, luminously illustrated poem made in association with Kew.
- Best for3–7
- FormatPicture
- Length40 pp
- Read aloud~8 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Second person
Tone
- Gentle
- Thought provoking
- Warm
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
What has this tree seen in its long, quiet life? Who has climbed it, sheltered under it, or nested in its branches? Made in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this luminous picture book unfolds as a poem of open questions, inviting young readers to stop, look closely and imagine the world from a tree's point of view. Emma Carlisle's soft pencil-and-watercolour illustrations glow with vibrant greens and golds, giving every leaf and branch a sense of gentle movement. Reflective rather than plot-driven, the book builds to a tender final invitation to become a little more like a tree, by taking your time, standing tall and caring for yourself and others. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, it is a mindful, screen-free way to spark curiosity, empathy and a lasting love of the natural world.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A reflective, screen-free picture book for 3-7s to share aloud, with independent readers up to about 8 enjoying its questions and nature notes. Calm and free of any scary content, it suits every listener and rewards slow, repeated reading.
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- 5
- 7
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- 13
- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 5–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Nature lovers
- Mindfulness
- Quiet stories
- Budding scientists
Avoid if
- Wants fast plot
- Wants funny
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
It turns an ordinary tree into something wondrous and full of stories, asking questions that spark the imagination: who has climbed here, what has it seen? The dreamy green illustrations are gorgeous to pore over, and the final invitation to become more like a tree feels quietly magical.
Why parents love it
Made with Kew, it is a beautiful, unhurried antidote to busy days, encouraging children to notice the natural world and reflect. The questioning format opens up real conversation, and Carlisle's luminous art makes it a book you will happily return to across the seasons.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Educational for adult too
About the author & illustrator
Emma Carlisle.
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