Milly has planted a little tree with her father.

‘Mulberry Tree,’ said Papa.

‘Bulberry twee,’ said Milly.

As Milly grows, so does the tree, both stretching their limbs up to the sky.

Milly plays around the tree, climbs it, and learns about the silk worms that hatch from it.

She swings from it, eats the mulberries and then uses the crimson, purply juice in her play and drawing. Years pass, and both Milly and the tree grow. Now her entire family can sit under it’s cool shade for happy celebrations.

Like her beloved silkworms Milly stretches her own wings and finds herself in other countries, far from her tree. But silk from silkworms is never far away.

Now grown, Milly’s thoughts are still with her Mulberry tree, it’s fluttery friends and beautiful leaves. She weaves them into designs and patterns on the fabric she uses for her own nature designs – all thanks to the Mulberry tree.

Soon it’s time to return home, and to her tree. She has another celebration to share.

A story of growth, belonging, stretching out and sharing. A blend of humankind and nature and how one tree can shape a life of play, beauty, imagination and love, bringing loved ones together again and again, and mould a girl’s then young woman’s identity.

From the soft pinks and purples from the front cover to the bright lanterns of Japan and back again, this is a gentle story to spark the imagination of possible futures whilst marveling at the wonder of nature at the same time.

Author – Vikki Conley

Illustrator – Deb Hudson

Picture Book

Find Teachers notes here 

(2022, Exisle Publishing, Growing up, Tree, Nature, Family, Celebration, Silkworm, Designing, Fabric, Silk, Coming Home, Treasured memories, Planting a tree)