Multiple Oscar winner Meryl Streep brings vocal star power to this tale of two prehistoric sycamore seeds. When an errant dinosaur's jostle casts Merwin and Louise's seedpod loose from Mama, it sends them on an odyssey through several Cretaceous biomes. Their search for a place to grow is furthered by agents ranging from a lacewing named Spot to a T. rex. It's both an adventure and a meditation on time, given texture by Streep, whose distinct characterizations pop against her soothing narration. Dreamer Louise has a high, piping voice, while pragmatist Merwin's creaky tones betray his timorous nature. Listeners who consult the print edition will discover that narration has been added to carry them over stunning wordless sequences, but the audiobook's consistent seed's-eye view lends it a beguiling intimacy. V.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

★ 02/20/2023

Caldecott Medalist Selznick opens this sweeping illustrated novel in a Cretaceous forest as two sycamore seeds, drawn as diminutive figures with shocks of delicate fuzz, search for a place to take root after a forest fire’s fallout propels them away from home. Louise, trusting and intuitive, often hears words from sources that can’t be seen (“The voice I’ve been hearing, the dreams, the Old One... It’s telling me there’s danger”). Protective, anxious Merwin brushes his sister’s insights aside (“We already know there’s danger! There’s danger everywhere!”), intent on finding a safe place to exist. Journeying through a lush, verdant world on the precipice of catastrophe, the two encounter varied outlooks via a host of beings who form Earth’s web of life: self-important King Seaweed, tiny Scientists who record the data of countless generations, a Ghost Leaf who helps other plants grow. Silvery, deeply textural drawings move elegantly between planet-scale drama, microscopic life, and Louise and Merwin’s shifting surroundings as the pace bounds inexorably onward, ending in a contemporary city where a Black child encounters a sidewalk-crack seedling. In evocative prose and peppery dialogue that sometimes get caught up in their message, the cinematic story journeys across time and space, contemplating the power of life to heal and the importance of developing “roots and wings.” Back matter details the science behind the story. Ages 7–up. (Apr.)

Praise for Big Tree:

“The tale of the natural world is the greatest story we have to tell, and Brian delivers a brilliant chapter of that tale throughout the pages of Big Tree.” — STEVEN SPIELBERG

“Brian Selznick is a singular talent. Big Tree grips you from start to finish and resonates emotionally long after you have finished reading.” — CHRIS MELEDANDRI, founder, Illumination

* “Sure to elicit gasps of surprise and delight…The astonishing story is at once vast and intimate, succeeding as both a small-scale adventure story and a broader exploration of the natural world. Glorious pencil drawings, moving swiftly from macro to micro lenses, turn wispy seeds into spritely, darling protagonists, and wordless sketched reveals that follow text interludes are sure to elicit gasps of surprise and delight. . . . An enthralling and expansive meditation on what it means to be alive on this planet.” — Booklist, starred review

* “Selznick’s dedication to dual storytelling through text and hundreds of finely detailed pencil drawings allows for each to progress the plot in succession, creating a balanced and rich book that invites careful reading and poring over illustrations to find all of the connective threads. . . . His expressive art that highlights the heart of the story, paired with his keen eye for creating sympathetic and memorable lost children . . . are a powerful combination to bring to this epic quest. Selznick fans will be delighted, and dinosaur fans and nature buffs will likely be just as enthralled.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred and recommended review

* “Silvery, deeply textural drawings move elegantly between planet-scale drama, microscopic life, and Louise and Merwin’s shifting surroundings as the pace bounds inexorably onward, ending in a contemporary city. . . . In evocative prose and peppery dialogue . . . the cinematic story journeys across time and space, contemplating the power of life to heal and the importance of developing ‘roots and wings.’” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Selznick elegantly intertwines pictures and words to tell the macro story of the natural world through the micro perspective of two sycamore seeds. . . . [His} control of narrative, pacing, and book design is idiosyncratic and masterful. Fluid shifts between prose and double-page spreads of accomplished pencil illustrations are clear and effective. . . . Ambitious…poignant…hopeful.” — The Horn Book, starred review

* "Selznick returns with a majestically illustrated, modern-day parable…this tale, with its combination of a childlike narrative and profound illustrations, presents a big, universal story of taking care of the miraculous Earth on which we live. Selznick’s signature art was created with pencil on hot pressed watercolor paper, and the texture and nuance of these nearly 300 pages will strike wonder in every reader….Weighty themes of connectedness, conservation, and the impact that one small voice can have on the fate of the universe might feel unfathomable and too big for children, but in Selznick’s hands, this poignant fable will resonate with all readers, young and old. A special, one-of-a-kind book for the whole family that readers won’t soon forget." — School Library Journal, starred review

“A labor of love—no, of passion—for the world and all the life it supports, Brian Selznick's Big Tree spreads its storytelling canopy to cover all of us. We’re implicated, we’re honored. We’re family.” — Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked

"Inspirational, important, and beautiful. A fable for our times." — Alan Gratz, bestselling author of Refugee and Ground Zero

“Grand in scope, yet intimate and tender. Quintessential Selznick. A triumph!” — Pam Muñoz Ryan, bestselling author of Esperanza Rising and the Newbery Honor Book Echo

“Big Tree is exactly the kind of book the world needs most right now.” — C.C. Harrington, author of the bestselling Indie’s Introduce Pick and Schneider Family Book Award winner Wildoak

Praise for The Invention of Hugo Cabret: 2008 Caldecott Medal winner National Book Award Finalist #1 New York Times Bestseller New York Times Best Illustrated Book Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Book of the Year TIME Magazine's 100 Best Children's and Young Adult Books of All Time "Evokes wonder… like a silent film on paper." — The New York Times "A fast-paced treat." — People Magazine "Distinctive." — The Wall Street Journal "Cinematic." — Parenting Magazine "Captivating." — Los Angeles Times Book Review * "A true masterpiece."— Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Fade to black and cue the applause!" — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Complete genius." — The Horn Book, starred review * "Breathtaking… shatters conventions." — School Library Journal, starred review * "An original and creative integration of art and text." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "Visually stunning… raises the bar." — San Antonio Express-News

Praise for Wonderstruck: #1 New York Times Bestseller New York Times Notable Children's Book ALA Notable Children's Book Parents' Choice Gold Winner Publishers Weekly Best Book "Engrossing, intelligent, beautifully engineered and expertly told in word and image." — The New York Times Book Review "Moving and ingenious… " — The Wall Street Journal "Brian Selznick proves to be that rare creator capable of following one masterpiece — The Invention of Hugo Cabret — with another even more brilliantly executed." — The Washington Post "Another entrancing, exquisitely illustrated novel… Older kids and adults alike will be mesmerized by the interlocking stories. A verbal and visual marvel." — Family Circle * "A gift for the eye, mind, and heart." — Booklist, starred review * "Visually stunning, completely compelling." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Innovative… has the makings of a classic." — Publishers Weekly, starred review * "A thing of wonder to behold… an emotional experience that neither the words nor the illustrations could achieve on their own." — School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for The Marvels: New York Times Bestseller New York Times Notable Children's Book An Indie Bound #1 National Bestseller Guardian Children' s Book Prize Finalist Publishers Weekly Best Book * "Selznick continues his quest to shake up notions of illustrated novels, wordless storytelling, and the intersection of text and pictures in this newest volume… The novel as a whole is exactly the sort of theater that is so lovingly described within." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review * "Caldecott Medalist Selznick has been creating acclaimed illustrated novels for years now, and his latest takes his groundbreaking narrative format to new heights… [this] warm, affecting family tale is bittersweet, astonishing, and truly marvelous." — Booklist, starred review * "… epic theater celebrating mysteries of the heart and spirit." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "[A] powerful story about creating lasting art and finding family in unexpected places." — Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Memorable, momentous." — School Library Journal, starred review

★ 04/01/2023

Gr 2–8—Selznick returns with a majestically illustrated, modern-day parable. Sycamore seeds Louise and Merwin are suddenly separated from their mama tree due to a conflagration. They are thrust into a dangerous world of dinosaurs and volcanoes, hoping to set down roots somewhere safe. Throughout their treacherous journey, the stars speak to Louise, hinting at a possible life-changing event on the horizon. Along the way, they meet The Ambassadors (mycorrhizal fungi), Spot (a butterfly), King Seaweed, and The Scientists (Foraminifera). Originally meant for a Spielberg-produced animated film, this tale, with its combination of a childlike narrative and profound illustrations, presents a big, universal story of taking care of the miraculous Earth on which we live. Selznick's signature art was created with pencil on hot pressed watercolor paper, and the texture and nuance of these nearly 300 pages will strike wonder in every reader. In the back matter, Selznick explains the science behind the story, including dinosaurs, asteroids, and the beginning of life on Earth. It also features a selected bibliography and a poem by W.S. Merwin, the seed's namesake. Weighty themes of connectedness, conservation, and the impact that one small voice can have on the fate of the universe might feel unfathomable and too big for children, but in Selznick's hands, this poignant fable will resonate with all readers, young and old. VERDICT A special, one-of-a-kind book for the whole family that readers won't soon forget—Shelley M. Diaz

Multiple Oscar winner Meryl Streep brings vocal star power to this tale of two prehistoric sycamore seeds. When an errant dinosaur's jostle casts Merwin and Louise's seedpod loose from Mama, it sends them on an odyssey through several Cretaceous biomes. Their search for a place to grow is furthered by agents ranging from a lacewing named Spot to a T. rex. It's both an adventure and a meditation on time, given texture by Streep, whose distinct characterizations pop against her soothing narration. Dreamer Louise has a high, piping voice, while pragmatist Merwin's creaky tones betray his timorous nature. Listeners who consult the print edition will discover that narration has been added to carry them over stunning wordless sequences, but the audiobook's consistent seed's-eye view lends it a beguiling intimacy. V.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

2023-01-12
A broad history of our planet overlaid on a seed’s experience of time and change.

Spun out to doorstopper dimensions by the overly liberal use of single lines of narrative on otherwise blank pages, Selznick’s latest fulsomely illustrated tale twines storylines large-scaled and small-, literal and metaphorical, immediate and spanning billions of years. In a Cretaceous forest, the desperate efforts of sycamore seed Merwin to protect his visionary little sibling Louise make for adventures aplenty involving fire, winds, dinosaurs, and even a volcanic eruption—with occasional breaks for flashbacks or philosophical dialogues with their loving Mama, a decomposing leaf, and the Earth itself. He eventually fails, as the two are swept off in different directions. They reunite many years later to grow up side by side, branches intertwined, after which the author fast-forwards to the present and a seedling’s rescue from a city sidewalk crack by a little Black girl. Most of the illustrations come in wordless, full-page sequential bursts, and if their ultra-soft focus isn’t particularly suitable for capturing more violent events, the lyrical, dramatic, and comical ones glow with vivid, cinematic intensity. In a lengthy afterword the author provides nature notes as well as describing the story’s origins as a movie concept from Steven Spielberg (whose tendency toward sentimentality is all over this), closing with a bibliography that includes, appropriately, The Carrot Seed and A Tree Is Nice.

Patchy and sentimental but central to our past, present, and future; at once grand and intimate. (Illustrated fantasy. 8-12)