A touching story about a sugar maple tree who finds a lifelong friend when a young girl comes to seek comfort in its branches.
For the longest time, Maple was on her own, ignored by the cedars and the pines. All she wanted was a friend she could talk to. Then one day, Rosemary climbs into her branches, sad and searching for a friend of her own. Together they form a bond as real as roots.
Through the seasons and across a lifetime, Maple and Rosemary tells a story of true friendship, one in which the experiences we share become a part of who we are.
Alison James’s spare, eloquent text is accompanied by luminous illustrations that capture the shifting seasons in all their glory, by Jennifer K. Mann, creator of the much-acclaimed picture book, The Camping Trip.
Alison James is the author of the picture book, The Drums of Noto Hando, and two novels, Sing for a Gentle Rain, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and RUNA, as well as the translator of more than seventy books for young readers including The Rainbow Fish. She is also the co-founder of the Kindling Words Writing Retreat. She lives in Vermont.
Jennifer K. Mann was an architect before turning to children’s books full time. Her most recent book, The Camping Trip, has received four starred reviews. She is also the creator of the picture books Josie’s Lost Tooth, Sam and Jump, Two Speckled Eggs, and I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard. Jennifer K. Mann lives on an island near Seattle with her husband, children, cats, dogs, and chickens.
★ "James’ gentle, straightforward prose is striking in its simplicity, capturing the strangeness and joy of new friendship as well as the ache of loneliness. . . . Mann’s sweeping, digitally collaged landscapes glow in a warm welcome to young viewers, with a combination of painterly and penciled textures bringing depth. . . . Honors the depth and longevity of friendship, even with the inevitability of loss."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review "Emotionally honest and visually aware of life’s seasons, this book acknowledges that cherished bonds don’t always follow a simple script."
—Publishers Weekly "Stunning illustrations depict the passing of seasons and the eventual reunion of the duo. James's text centers Maple, rather than Rosemary, as the main character, providing the unique protagonist with emotions and feelings, while Mann's mixed-media spreads capture the beauty and wonder of the seasons. . . . A tale of friendship and the environment that will find a home in many collections."
—School Library Journal "A sweet story of friendship. . . ."
—Kirkus Reviews
