Big Tree

Written by Brian Selznick

Narrated by Meryl Streep

A 2024 Grammy Nominee for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording!

The fate of all life on Earth may depend on the bravery of two little seeds in this epic adventure from the #1 New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Medalist of The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

"The tale of the natural world is the greatest story we have to tell, and Brian delivers a brilliant chapter of that tale throughout the pages of Big Tree." - STEVEN SPIELBERG

* "An enthralling and expansive meditation on what it means to be alive on this planet."-Booklist, starred review

* "A balanced and rich book. . . . Powerful."- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred and recommended review

* "In evocative prose and peppery dialogue . . . the cinematic story journeys across time and space, contemplating the power of life to heal."- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "A special, one-of-a-kind book for the whole family that readers won't soon forget." - School Library Journal, starred review

"Inspirational, important, and beautiful. A fable for our times." - Alan Gratz, bestselling author of Refugee and Ground Zero

"Hello, stars. I thought I heard you calling me."

A mysterious voice has been speaking to Louise in her dreams. She and her brother Merwin are Sycamore seeds, who hope to one day set down roots and become big trees. But when a fire forces them to leave their mama tree prematurely, they find themselves catapulted into the unknown, far from home. Alone and unprepared, they must use their wits and imagination to navigate a dangerous world—filled with dinosaurs, meteors, and volcanoes!—and the fear of never finding a safe place to grow up. As the mysterious voice gets louder, Louise comes to realize their mission in life may be much bigger than either of them ever could have imagined!

Brimming with humor, wonder, mystery, and a profound sense of hope, Big Tree is a trailblazing adventure narrated by Meryl Streep and featuring music composed by Ernest Troost. It is Selznick's most imaginative and far-reaching work to date and a singular listening experience for the whole family!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781339004006

Brian Selznick

Brian Selznick is the author and illustrator of the bestselling The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal and was a National Book Award finalist. He is also the illustrator of many books for children, including Frindle and Lunch Money by Andrew Clements, as well as the Doll People trilogy by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, which was a Caldecott Honor Book. Mr. Selznick divides his time between Brooklyn, New York, and San Diego, California.

Reviews for Big Tree

[Cheryl Kline · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is well-written and tells the story of nature in a fun way. I personally don't agree that the world is millions of years old and don't appreciate that touted as fact, but glad that Brian's theory of how the world began was claimed as a theory and not fact.

[shayholst · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a Wonderful story that I enjoyed as did my children!