Invitation from the Trees

An Invitation from the Trees, by author Yunn Gan, is about a sad time for little Ben. He has just moved in with his grandparents because his parents are away. He misses them so much that he goes out to the backyard and cries. Hes not outside very long before the trees start talking to him. Ben soon makes friends with the papaya tree, starfruit tree, banana tree, rambutan tree, and calabash vine. All are eager to cheer him up. They invite him to a party with the birds the next day, but the party ends badly. His new friends work together to make it up to Ben. An Invitation from the Trees is a fun, beautifully illustrated book for young readers. It shows how children could cope with difficult circumstances through the help of their friends, whether real or imagined, in a loving environment.