World Book Day Pick: The Cherry Tree, a Springtime Story of Hope

About the book

This tale of a cherry tree's survival after the devastation of war reaches the hearts of children too young to understand abstract ideas like pacifism and environmentalism.

Brian Wildsmith's illustrations create an enchanting world where together with a boy, a girl, their newly adopted cat and their mother, the reader can rejoice in a dream come true after enduring a cold, harsh winter and learn the importance of hope and perseverance in the face of all odds.

What readers are saying

“The Cherry Tree by Daisaku Ikeda, illustrated by Brian Wildsmith… tells a deeper story than is at first apparent.” — The Toronto Star

“I'm a huge fan of Brian Wildsmith, and this picture book is so beautiful that I'm putting it on my shelf just so it looks like a painting on the wall—haha! The story is thoughtful, and I’m sure it’s great for children. I’ll keep it for the day I give birth to my own child. ;)” — Naomi

“As in The Snow Country Prince, their previous collaboration, Ikeda and Wildsmith present a tender story about the rewards of kindness. Ikeda's quiet text is infused with the innocence and curiosity embodied in his child protagonists; his message is fundamental without being didactic.” — Publishers Weekly

Sources:

https://www.daisakuikeda.org/sub/books/books-by-category/youth-children/

https://www.brianwildsmith.com/the-books