Hello, Tree

Inspired by the 2013 Black Forest fire and told from the viewpoint of a tree watching its home destroyed, Hello, Tree is about the kinship between humans and nature, and preservation of the environment.

　　It was a swallow who called it first.
　　“Fire’s coming!”
　　And the animals ran away.
　　Even the insects tried to flee.
　　The girl and her family left, too.
　　All I could do…was wait.
 
　　When a wildfire comes roaring into the forest, all the animals and humans flee. But all the tree can do is wait. Wait until many days and nights pass. Wait until the fire loses the battle. And wait until the forest is still before the forest can be reborn and the animals and the girl can come back.

Ana Crespo’s favorite pastime is traveling around the country, visiting some of the most beautiful places around. She has visited all lower forty-eight states and many national parks. In 2013, she was returning home from her native Brazil when she saw the smoke that indicated the beginning of the Black Forest fire in Colorado. This story is inspired by what came after. Find out more about Ana at AnaCrespoBooks.com.

Dow Phumiruk (last name pronounced Poo’ mee ruck) is a pediatrician who has found her passion in creating children’s books. She’s the illustrator of many children’s book, including Maya Lin, Artist-Architect of Light and Lines and Counting on Katherine. She lives in Colorado with her husband, three artistic daughters, and a handful of small pets.