Kenzie's Little Tree

Kenzie’s Little Tree by Alison McGauley and Emilie Leduc explores changes in a family through the changes of the seasons.

One day Kenzie and her family plant a tree. They pick it out special and Kenzie promises to take care of their little crooked tree. Through the seasons readers explore the little tree and Kenzie’s family and learn about Kenzie’s mom who is chronically ill and sometimes has low energy and sometimes needs to visit the hospital.

Alison McGauley’s debut picture book is a love letter to families and a comfort to readers whose parents are disabled or chronically ill. In this story, Kenzie’s little tree may look small and a bit crooked and she worries about her little tree, just like she worries about Mom, she realizes, just like her tree, her Mom is stronger than she thinks. It’s such a pleasure to discover stories that approach sensitive topics with so much heart and understanding. Many readers will have experiences similar to Kenzie. Some may be short and some longer but this story reassures readers that the people they love are strong and resilient.

I love how Alison McGauley chooses to explore the mother’s illness through the seasons of the year. Just like nature changes and grows throughout the year, so do people. Readers not only feel the warm reassurance of strength through this story but also learn a little bit about nature's cycles from spring to winter.

Emilie Leduc’s illustrations eloquently convey the strength and warmth that flows through the text. The illustrations are colourful and reflective of the sights in each season of the year. I love how they have a bit of a dreamlike quality. The softness adds to the nurturing theme and the bold colours demonstrate the strength of Kenzie, her mom, and the little tree.