Adoette, by Lydia Monks

Adoette is a huge tree that was planted when a new street was being built over 100 years ago. When the first families moved into the street Adoette was just a small tree and the young children played all around her. There were no cars and no electricity and everyone in the road knew everyone else.

Over the years things changed. Adoette was there when good things happened and when bad things happened. She was there as everywhere got busier with more cars and more people rushing about. And all the time Adeotte was growing…Now she was no longer small. Instead, she was a huge tree, towering over the road and taking space from the pavement. Some people began to hate her as much as others loved her. They insisted that the tree should go!

Once the splendid tree had been cut down the street looked very bare and felt very sad. Adoette had been a living centre piece for a community. How could she be replaced?

Lydia Monks’s beautiful illustrations celebrate the importance of caring for nature and for each other by making time to look out for one another. A powerful message inspired by Lydia Monks own experience.