One Tree

Christopher Cheng, Illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Illustration by Bruce Whatley of a man in a traditional chinese farm hat walking down a green hill alongside a lamb. There is one tall tree.

One tall tree on the mountain once marked Grandfather’s farm. Now there is a busy city and Grandfather lives with us in our apartment.

 

Once he told stories but now he stays silent. Until one day, in the city market, I find something precious . . . something that brings Grandfather’s memories alive again.

 

Short listed for the 2020 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature and the 2020 Environment Award for Children's Literature.

 

 

Reviews

 

 

 

"If you pick up a book by Christopher Cheng, you know you are going to get an outstanding story, one that will have a profound effect on you. In my opinion, it is as impressive as his iconic One Child (now 21 years old) with its powerful message about the power of one and the change that can happen because just one child believes.

...And true to form, Bruce Whatley who says he would “get bored if I stuck to one or two [illustration styles}” has illustrated this book in a completely new style, one that complements the text perfectly. "

 

Barbara Braxton

The Bottom Shelf

 

 

 

"This is a beautiful testimony to the place of older people within a family, the wisdom they can pass on, the changes they have seen and their evolving relationships with the younger generation. Cheng inhabits his story with an almost mythic quality; it is like reading a fable which readers will ponder long after the story has finished."

 

Fran Knight

ReadPlus

 

 

"This is a beautiful narrative of love, family, resilience and nature. One senses that there could be a very personal back story to this new book and Bruce Whatley’s stunning illustrations capture perfectly the sense of Chinese culture in a linocut style. This is a splendid picture book which I would predict will be firmly and rightfully placed in award lists in the coming year. Highly recommended for young readers from around six years upwards."

 

Sue Warren

Just So Stories

 

 

 

"Christopher Cheng’s Chinese heritage informs this book and it’s a privilege for us to be included as readers. One Tree acknowledges the old ways while being realistic, but not negative, about modern life. It shows there are always possibilities for change and it emphasises how lucky we are to have elders in our lives—and how important it is to listen to them."

 

Louise Pfanner

Featured Book Review, Books + Publishing

 

 

 

"This story is not only uplifting but is about love and change and how important the natural environment is in our lives. Cheng tells it simply and effectively."

 

Di Bates

 

 

 

 

Purchase One Tree from:

 

 

 

Author: Christopher Cheng

 

Illustrator: Bruce Whatley

 

Teacher's Notes

 

Teaching Materials (CLELT, Hong Kong)

 

Publisher

 

  • Penguin (2019)
  • ISBN: 9780143786733

 

Links

 

Copyright © 2019-2023 Christopher Cheng

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Illustration by Bruce Whatley of a man in a traditional chinese farm hat walking down a green hill alongside a lamb. There is one tall tree.

Illustration by Bruce Whatley of a man in a traditional chinese farm hat walking down a green hill alongside a lamb. There is one tall tree.

Illustration by Bruce Whatley of a man in a traditional chinese farm hat walking down a green hill alongside a lamb. There is one tall tree.

Illustration by Bruce Whatley of a man in a traditional chinese farm hat walking down a green hill alongside a lamb. There is one tall tree.