Albert's Tree

Reach for this book when your child is struggling to understand why a friend is upset or when they are feeling overwhelmed by a peer's big emotions. It is a perfect tool for teaching children that someone's outward behavior, like crying or shouting, often has a hidden cause that requires patience and investigation to uncover. This gentle story follows Albert the bear as he wakes from hibernation and discovers his favorite tree is 'crying.' Albert tries everything he knows to cheer it up, from telling jokes to offering gifts, only to realize the sound isn't coming from the tree at all. It is a masterclass in empathy and perspective-taking for children aged 3 to 7, using humor and soft illustrations to normalize the process of checking in on others while managing one's own anxiety about a friend's distress.