TOVE UNDER THE TREE

A tree grows in an unlikely location.

Arborists come to Tove’s house to remove an ailing ficus, which is felled before the child returns from school. Seeing her disappointment, the head arborist encourages her to weigh in on what kind of tree the city will plant in its place. But Tove only wants this particular tree, and she removes a leafy branch as a memento. She places the twig atop her head and comically pours water over it, and the branch takes root in her hair. She nurtures the new tree by walking in the sun, bathing in moonglow, and letting her sapling commune with a robin singing on a wire. As the tree grows, neighbors notice, and community excitement builds for Tove’s curious quest. But logistical challenges creep in: It’s hard to lie down to sleep, and the tree’s massive presence makes scoring soccer goals tough (her understanding coach makes her goalie). Thankfully, with magical thinking and a lot of community support, a solution is reached that keeps both girl and ficus safe and thriving. Theule’s simple prose is delightfully deliberate, making a rather surreal concept seem nearly normal. Benbassat’s accompanying illustrations are cozy in tone; scenes that might otherwise seem scary or strange—Tove’s face being engulfed by roots, the tree dwarfing her as it increases in size—feel downright homey. Tove is light-skinned and dark-haired, while her neighbors are diverse.

A delightfully quirky tale about standing up for urban nature.