Bunny & Tree

(Hardback)

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Description

A gorgeous wordless adventure story about a rabbit and a tree, their surprising friendship, and the distance they go to find a place to call home.

Bunny and Tree first meet when the tree observes a ferocious wolf threatening the bunny and comes to its protection. From that moment on, there is a bond of trust between the two, which flowers not only into friendship, but amazingly, into a road trip adventure, when Bunny, who's looking for his rabbit friends, convinces Tree that it's time to uproot and see the world. Compelled by sympathy and a shared purpose, Bunny and Tree hit the road, becoming another tremendous and memorable picture book odd couple. Depicted in bright colors in a world of lavish skies and so much to see, Bunny and Tree share in wonder, adventure, misadventure, solidarity, and a sense of homecoming.

Reviews

"Imaginative power and constant movement make this wordless debut picture book from artist Zsako a visual tour de force... Atmospheric backdrops create the sense of passing time as the journey hurtles onward. The page-turning tale mixes classic storytelling tropesthe ability to transform, a quest for lost loved ones, trees majestyinto a fanciful exploration of a world in which love leads to growth, and growth, in turn, to deeper love." Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"The feel of this narrative is classic, but the presentation makes it new, wondrous even, as it is entirely wordless. Color-soaked, full-page illustrations comprise the entire book, filling it with watercoloresque skies, dramatic silhouettes, and boundless imagination. It subtly tips its hat to Harold and the Purple Crayon and The Runaway Bunny in the ways the duo creatively surmounts obstacles, typically by Tree taking on different shapes suggested by Bunny: a sailboat when met with water, an airplane when confronted with mountains. Zsako also folds in visual cues that speak to natures life cycles, season changes, and symbiosis. Beyond that, the heartwarming friendship between Bunny and Tree is never once in doubt, and it will effortlessly gather readers into its embrace." Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"Cooperation, regeneration, and reunification conveyed wordlessly in nine acts... Zsakos depictions of skies and weather are particularly mesmerizing... Zsako avoids anthropomorphism, communicating emotions through body language, not physiognomy. This handsomely bound, rich volume... will intrigue both kids and grown-ups. A lush tale thats worthy of repeat perusals." Kirkus

"This is a masterpiece of a book, rich with imagination and the most stunning artwork. I ooh-ed and ahh-ed with each page turn and was surprised and delighted along each step of Bunny and Tree's journey. I have followed Balints work for years because of its beauty and complex conceptual imagery, which shines in this book too. It's a story of friendship, kindness, generosity, regrowth and courage, a truly heartwarming tale we all could benefit from right now." Illustrator & NYT columnist Julia Rothman

"This is an incredibly moving and magical book. I loved it." NYT bestselling author Sheila Heti

"An epic folktale told with the quiet beauty of an illuminated manuscript. Balint Zsako is a visual poet. Illustrator & designer Nicholas Blechman

"I've had the enjoyable experience of reviewing Bunny & Tree with my six-year-old sitting alongside me. We turned page after page as if rolling out a long scrolling allegorical landscapeme falling in love with Balint's beautifully detailed yet charmingly simple paintings and my son excited to see what would happen to Bunny and to his friend and protector the tree (no spoilers here). There are so many surprising lessons in the book about the color and joy of nature, about the act of caring for each other; lovely messages about life, seasons, brotherhood, and protecting each other and the selfless act of giving. Lessons we should all carry with us through our lives, yet sometimes we lose sight of them as we age. The remarkable thing is, the book is pictures alonethere are no words. Yet I never had to explain any part of the bookBalint's method of painting using open landscapes of washes and brushstrokes provides space for the reader to sit with the images and absorb and understand them. Bunny & Tree captures the passage of time in such a unique waymore like telling a story over a long walk. My son and I were led on long a journey together through a poetic allegoryall told using beautifully painted pictures and symbols that my son could fully understand. Stories like these use a magical language that is extremely powerful to children, and leave an imprint on who we are and how we go about the rest of our lives. We all remember reading Where the Wild Things Are or The Giving Tree or perhaps seeing the films of Miyzaki. Bunny and Tree speaks to us in much the same waysilently powerful, charmingly beautiful and forever memorable. I won't ever forget this book. It is a deeply powerful allegory, deceptively simple yet dense with messages and illustrated with stunningly beautiful paintingsan absolute joy for readers to explore young or old. Thanks for sharing this with the world, Balint. It is needed." Illustrator Brian Rea

Author Bio

Balint Zsako was born in Budapest, Hungary to a textile artist mother and a sculptor father. His family immigrated to Canada when he was ten years old. At university, he studied photography, but for the last 20 years, he has been exhibiting paintings and collages. Take This Waltz, a film by Sarah Polley, features his drawings, and his illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker, Harpers and The New York Times Magazine. Bunny & Tree is his first picture book. He lives and works in Los Angeles.