The Tree and the River

A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind – and our impact on the natural world – from an award-winning master of the wordless form.

WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR ILLUSTRATION AND SHADOWERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION 2024.

For his latest feat of visual storytelling, the acclaimed creator of the Journey trilogy invents, in staggering detail, a familiar world layered with imaginary civilizations. Borrowing from multiple cultures and architectural styles to craft astonishing new humanscapes, Aaron Becker tracks the evolution of our species – and its toll on the Earth – through the fates of a lone tree and an enduring river. River and tree bear silent witness over time as people arrive to harness water, wind, and animals; devise technology and transportation; redirect rivers; and reshape the land. Timely and ultimately hopeful, this wordless epic invites readers to pore over spreads densely packed with visual drama. Fans of Journey, Quest, and Return will leap at a new chance to uncover sophisticated layers of meaning, marvel at intricate details – from holographic billboards to flying machines – and see our precious shared world through fresh eyes.

[Aaron Becker's] beautiful, super-detailed artwork is the perfect igniter of class discussion as children are empowered to think and decide where the story might go. […] Becker’s books are a breath of fresh air in a shouty market that is so often overrun with crude digital printouts […] As with the best illustrators, the more you look, the more you see. Another huge achievement. -- Alex O'Connell The Times
Stunning, thought-provoking wordless picture book. the Bookseller
The Tree and the River is a wordless jewel with several layers…Each double-page spread – featuring the same plot of land from the same viewpoint – holds a myriad of details that invite readers to create elaborate background stories for all the tiny characters depicted... Simply stunning. The White Ravens 2024
This is a book to inspire conversation with young readers. Books for Keeps
You’ll find yourself reading it over and over again in a never-ending cycle, focusing on a different story each time. There are hours of entertainment in this brilliant book and plenty of both current and relevant themes, ranging from our role in climate change to the difficulties of war and the ultimate purpose of civilization. -- Children's Books Ireland Reading Matters Guide

Aaron Becker started drawing picture books at the age of eight. After many years of practice, he published his first wordless picture book, Journey, which was named a Caldecott Honor Book, and completed the trilogy with Quest and Return. He is also the author-illustrator of the wordless picture book, A Stone for Sascha. Aaron Becker lives in Massachusetts, USA, with his wife and daughter. Find him online at storybreathing.com and on Twitter as @storybreathing.

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