THE DAY MY BROTHER BECAME A TREE

Owen loves the trees in his family’s garden.

The narrator, a dark-haired youngster named Wendy, explains that little brother Owen adores the trees in the yard. He keeps them warm with scarves and gloves in winter, sings them songs, and gives them names. When the kids learn that the family will soon be moving, Owen’s initial anger at having to leave the trees behind turns to sadness, and the next morning, Wendy notices a new “tree” in the yard. Li cleverly depicts Owen gathering branches to tie around his torso, then portrays the boy as he imagines himself: a tree, with branches for arms and a trunk for a body. Wendy keeps Owen warm, sings to him, and even tries to “repot” him so they can move. It’s too much for Owen, who sobs that he will miss his trees, his friends, and all the things they can’t take with them. Li realistically conveys the grief that results from change while also offering a strong model for validating those emotions. There is no instant fix: Owen must sit with his own feelings and process them, while his family gives him support and understanding. Detailed illustrations of a loving family and friends in warm and colorful mixed media complement Owen’s emotional journey. Owen, Wendy, and their parents present East Asian; supporting characters are diverse.

A sensitive and funny take on moving.