The Day My Brother Became a Tree

PreS-Gr 3–Wendy’s parents have announced that the family will be moving, and there’s one person who is not having it: her brother Owen. He cannot bear the thought of leaving behind their garden, where he has befriended the trees and regards them as cherished companions. In his sadness, he roots himself to the ground, visually rendered as a tree-human hybrid in his refusal to ­cooperate with the impending move. Wendy, an admirably patient and loving sister, treats Owen the way she has witnessed him ­caring for his trees, and her tender ministrations soon unlock his emotions. Owen, ­recognizable as the energetic friend of the main character from Li’s I Lived Inside a Whale, is an ­appealing mix of energy, enthusiasm, and vulnerability. The illustrations, rendered in a bright, cheerful mix of gouache, ­watercolor, colored pencils, and crayons, immediately situate readers in the idyllic world of the young boy’s play before bringing grief, anger, and acceptance into the mix. Li makes the distinctive choice to separate the roles of narrator and protagonist, setting this work apart from many other social-emotional picture books. This division allows Wendy to comment on Owen’s ­reactions and ­behaviors and to model empathy through her unwavering acceptance of her brother’s frustration. Wendy and her brother have tan skin and dark hair.