The Tree That Was a World

By Yorick Goldewijk

"A remarkable story not to be missed."
--School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

"Hilariously irreverent and enchantingly strange."
--Shelf Awareness (STARRED REVIEW)

The interconnected stories of seventeen creatures all living and dreaming underneath the same tree.

The tree is as old as the world, covered in cracks and crevices--and full of life. A sloth hangs on a branch all day but longs to somersault through the woods. The moon moth caterpillar watches her friends shed their skins and decides to do things differently. The barn swallow feels like she's lost something--but can't remember what. The common toad disagrees with his name--and the duck-billed platypus might have something to say about that. The red squirrel has the strangest sense that he might be a human--for one, that looks like a watch on his wrist Wherever you look in this tree, another creature has a thought, a dream, a decision, a question...

With spectacular art by New York Times/NYPL Best Illustrated awardee Jeska Verstegen, this middle-grade novel will charm readers with its imaginative storytelling and extraordinary cast of animal characters. Hilarious, surreal, and thought-provoking, The Tree That Was a World is an utterly unforgettable book.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802856500
• ISBN13: 9780802856500
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.7" x 6.2"
• Age Range: 8 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 9