A review by Nalini Haynes
The Dreaming Tree is a hardcover book of poetry written and illustrated Jo Oliver.
The cover has an image of a tree inset in a frame on a mottled-green background. The title uses a courier-type font with varying ink density and smudges.
Pages are mostly glossy yet they’re colored to look aged and stained. The only thing missing is that delicious old-book smell, but that is something time can remedy.
Every poem has at least one painting to illustrate it; every illustration is muted in tone, looking like a whimsical watercolor.
The poems themselves are delightfully simple: some are written in a short prose-style, others have distinctive rhythms and rhymes. I envisage adults sharing this collection with children and reading alone.
The Dreaming Tree is a gorgeous book of poetry that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. They’re delightful. I especially love that the last page is devoted to encouraging readers to write their own poetry. I highly recommend The Dreaming Tree; Bibliophiles may need two copies: one for the kids and one for their collection.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
ISBN: 9781925059489
Format: hardcover
Publisher: NEW FRONTIER PUBLISHING (Scholastic Australia)
