The Jesse Tree

Product Description As Mr. Butterfield carves a Jesse Tree in a dusty old church, a curious young boy distracts him by asking about the various symbols on the tree. Against his inclination, thegruff old man finds himself retelling the familiar biblical tales that trace the family tree of Christ, from the Garden of Eden to Jesus’ birth. Under the carpenter’s skilled hands, the Jesse Tree grows―and an unlikely friendship begins to take root as well. Geraldine McCaughrean’s fresh retellings of familiar Bible events and Bee Willey’s whimsical and striking illustrations create a rich and contemporary tale that will captivate readers who know and love these stories as well as readers who are discovering them for the first time. Review “In this finely crafted anthology, McCaughrean weaves lively retellings of Bible stories into a clever overarching narrative framework that will keep readers hooked. . . . McCaughrean’s tales have a leisurely pace and accessible language and tone. . . .Willey’s dramatic spot art toggles between Biblical and modern scenes, emphasizing the colorful scope of the carpenter’s project.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review) About the Author Geraldine McCaughrean has written more than a hundred booksfor children, including the award-winning Gilgames theHero (Eerdmans). In addition, she has won every majorprize for children's literature in England, including theCarnegie Medal, the Whitbread Award, and the GuardianChildren's Fiction Award. Geraldine lives in England. Bee Willey has worked in animation, advertising, andpublishing. Her first love is book illustration?she hasmore than twenty children's book in print?which she nowcombines with teaching at several colleges of art. Beelives in England.