If Trees Could Talk…

I’ve always wished trees could talk, sharing their wisdom and observations with humans who have far shorter lifespans. Jeff Gottesfeld told Anne Frank’s story from a tree ‘s point of view in The Tree in the Courtyard-Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window, illustrated by Peter McCarty.

Like many, I have read The Diary of Anne Frank. I never thought about her touching story being told by what many consider an inanimate object. It worked so well having this horse chestnut tree witnessing the joy of young Anne, playing in the courtyard. The tree watches her change from a small face at a window to a pale, thin older girl. The tree always sees Anne writing. The tree has affection for Anne. It loves her, worries with her, rejoices when she finds young love, and mourns her when only her father returns.

The part that truly touched my heart was so many people tried so hard to extend the life of this tree because it was Anne’s. This symbol of hope at one of the darkest periods in modern history lives on through her seeds and saplings that now dwell throughout our world. I wonder what stories her “children” would tell.