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Tess's Tree

(2009, Fiction - Emotions, Written by Jess Brallier, Illustrated by Peter Reynolds)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sweet story of grief and healing is pitch perfect.

Themes in this book include:   friendship, loss

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Tess releases first her anger by acting out, then her sadness by organizing a funeral with the loving participation of family and neighbors.

  • Role models:

    Tess shows creativity and consideration; her loving mother is supportive and proud of her daughter; several adults in her life share Tess’s grief and help her cope.

  • Illustrations:

    Sensitively and beautifully drawn artwork reflects the warmth of the story.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    The story revolves around the loss of Tess’s tree after a violent storm, a loss she treats as a death.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Tess's Tree

Parents need to know this gentle book deals head-on with loss, walking young children through the process of grieving and teaching them how to heal and move on. The loss in this case is a tree, but to Tess it’s like losing a beloved playmate.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about coping with loss. Have you ever felt like Tess does when her tree is taken down? How did you react? Did it help you feel better?
  • At the celebration of the life of Tess’s tree, Tess learns about the tree’s past. Help children interview someone older -- a grandparent, aunt, or neighbor, perhaps -- about something in their past, such as their first day of school, the house they grew up in, or what they did for fun as a child.
  • Families reading this book while dealing with a loss can try some of the activities Tess does. Try holding a celebratory funeral, or commemorate what you’ve lost through artwork.
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