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Review: Once I Was a Tree

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Written by Eoin McLaughlin
Illustrated by Guilherme Karsten
Lincoln, MA: Nosy Crow Inc., 2026. Picture Book.

The paper in your books all came from somewhere! Once I Was a Tree tells the story of a seed who grew into a tree, was chopped down, and processed into the book you're reading (or so it claims). Told from the perspective of the book, follow our protagonist as he (as a seed) falls to the ground, gets eaten by Derek the squirrel, grows into a great tall pine tree and becomes a book. Filled with plenty of tree facts and a fun detour in Barbara's (the dung beetle) ball of dung, this book is full of tongue-in-cheek humor sure to be enjoyed by many kids.

I wasn't expecting a book that was so funny to have as much heart as this does. It ends as a love letter to books and a plea for stories to live on through us. I really enjoyed how much McLaughlin committed to the bit of this being written by "a book." Even the title page is full of witty comments from the book complimenting the illustrator and wondering why the crow is so nosy (published by Nosy Crow Inc.).
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