This is a wonderful book. The illustrations are original looking in colors, style and views. The words flowed beautifully about friendship and that nature matters too. I love the repeated line in this book: "Unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all".

'Apple and Magnolia' by Laura Gehl with illustrations by Patricia Metola is a picture book about two trees that live next to each other.

Young Britta likes visiting her favorite trees, Apple and Magnolia. One day, she noticed that Magnolia was not looking so good, but is there anything Britta or Apple can do?

This is a lovely story about the connections we make with the people around us and nature. An author's note talks about how trees communicate, which adds to the story. The illustrations are equally lovely.

This book is a beautiful story of friendship. The addition of the author’s note adds something special to the story and sparked discussion with my 4yo. This book would make a wonderful addition to any bookshelf & will be used in our home during the Fall/Apple season and whenever we need a reminder on the beauty of friendship. Illustrations compliment the story beautifully.

Thank you to NetGalley & Flyaway books for the preview!

A cute, quirky and informative tale set in beautifully illustrated pages. I first tried to read this on kindle but the formatting was all over the place so had to download on NetGalley shelf. Thankfully I did, otherwise I would have missed this treat!

What a lovely book about the power of friendship and loyalty. Great choice for little nature lovers and children with determination.

Not my favorite story by any means. I appreciate the effort, but neither the illustrations or the story were enough to keep my daughter's or my interest.

Apple and Magnolia is a heartwarming story about the power of friendship. Apple and Magnolia are two trees that grow next to one another, and they are Britta's favorites. She is sure they nurture and take care of each other. When Magnolia seems to be sick with her leaves turning brown, Britta's father and sister are sure she will not survive the winter. Nana asks Britta if she has a plan because unusual friendships can be powerful. Britta puts her plan into place, and even though Magnolia blooms late, she survives and blooms beautifully. I loved this story about friendship, and how support and encouragement can help someone bloom. What a wonderful story to share with children about those things. I loved how positive Nana was and how that encouraged Britta. The illustrations were whimsical and fit the story well. I definitely recommend this story to schools, teachers and parents. When I read this one to my grandkids, they listened attentively, but didn't quite get the message until I asked them a few questions. They thought it was a good story and we put it in our pile to read again. The message about how trees communicate was interesting and had me doing some research of my own.

Two different kinds of trees with friendship between them. Britta has a disbelieving papa and a disbelieving other girl. She also has a perspicacious grandma who knits and teaches the Lesson: "Unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all". The artistry of the illustrations by Patricia Metola is simple and puts the sentiment in greater position. Wonderful!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Flyaway Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This week we celebrate Earth Day and if you read the Author's Note for this book, you will understand why I chose it as part of that celebration. Trees, Gehl writes, can communicate and even help one another by sending nutrients to each other, a process scientists are only beginning to understand.

Young Britta has two favorite trees, an apple and a magnolia tree, and she is sure that they are best friends. Britta's skeptical dad and her very skeptical older sister Bronwyn did not think that trees could be friends, but Nana says that sometimes "unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all."


Then one day, Magnolia begins to droop, her bark becomes patchy and gray, and her leaves turn brown. Skeptical dad and very skeptical Bronwyn don't think Magnolia will be able to survive the winter, but all Nana wants to know whether or not Britta has a plan for helping her beloved tree.

Britta, with Nana's support and the help of her dog and cat devises ways to bring the two trees together in the hope that Apple would send good things Magnolia's way. First, she attaches telephone cups on string so they could communicate better, then she wraps them in a long scarf for warmth and finally, she strings lights through their branches so they could always see each other. And as time passes, Britta is sure that the trees were growing together. Naturally, skeptical dad and very skeptical Bronwyn didn't think the trees were growing toward each other, but Britta and Nana make a chart to measure the distance anyway.

Sure enough, the distance between the trees begins to gets smaller. Britta and Nana may have faith in the power of friendship even between trees, but can Apple really help Magnolia heal or is it just wishful thinking on Britta's part? What do you think?

This is a lovely, lyrical story about the importance of relationships and nature- and, according to my young readers, there are four important ones in this picture book. There is the subtle camaraderie between Britta and her dog, the close relationship between Britta and Nana, the love between Britta, Apple and Maple, and of course, the friendship between the two trees themselves. My young readers actually found five relationships, but we voted not to count the naysayers Dad and Bronwyn here because this is also a book about believing, positivity, and determination and not about giving up.

The stylish, whimsical illustrations are a pleasure to look at and explore. They have the feeling of a child's drawings done in crayon and are just perfect for this story. One other thing my kids commented on is the fact that Britta is clearly a biracial girl with a white father and a brown Nana. Apple and Magnolia makes an ideal read aloud, and is sure to generate some interesting thoughts and observations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Gehl, and Flyaway Books for the opportunity to read and review your book. This review is entirely my own thoughts.

Though this is suppose to be a children’s book, I absolutely believe anyone can learn something from it! (Be sure to read the author’s note!) The story and illustrations are beautifully told. It’s a powerful lesson told so simply that it really gives a parent a great opportunity to discuss and develop the lesson further if so wished.

"Apple and Magnolia" is a very cute little book. In it, the main character, Britta, believes that the apple tree and magnolia tree are best friends. No one really believes her except for her grandmother. No one believes the Magnolia tree will survive the winter but Britta knew it would with the help of her and the apple tree. When the magnolia tree's leaves turn brown and fall off she starts to lose hope but her nana reminds her that she can help the trees. So to help them she puts lights up so the trees can see each other in the dark, and makes a long warm scarf to stretch between the two trees. Miraculously the trees slowly start getting closer and closer to each other and the Magnolia tree blooms again. Her nana always reminds her that unusual friendships are powerful. This is a great lesson for kids to know that taking care of something or someone can help them grow and become happier and the importance of friendship even if it's a friend that's not typical.

I really enjoyed the art style of this book. The illustrations are very childlike and remind me of a mixture of crayon scribbles and abstract art. It's really beautiful and fun.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free. All opinions are my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I loved this book about a little girl who believes that the apple and magnolia trees are friends and when one gets sick, the other can help it. Just Beautiful.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute book about being friends, even among trees. The authors note was fascinating to read, learning about how trees can send nutrients to each other. Illustrations were fun!

A lovely picture book. Apple and Magnolia, the characters in this book, explore the power of unlikely friendships.

Britta visits her two favorite trees, Apple and Magnolia, every day. Britta knows the trees talk to each other somehow. One day, Magnolia's branches start to droop. What is going on? And is there anything Britta or Apple can do to help?

Lovely art, Apple and Magnolia's friendship shows us the connections between trees and the bonds between living things. There is an author's note offering facts about how trees communicate with one another.

Apple and Magnolia

Britta’s 2 favorite trees, an apple and a magnolia, are best friends, and Britta visits and watches them every day, sometimes dancing under the stars with the swaying trees. Her father, nicely, does not believe her, and sister Bronwyn, not so nicely, concurs. But Nana is quietly encouraging, saying ”Unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all”. When Magnolia is ailing, her father says it will not survive the winter, but Nana asks if Britta has a plan. Britta creates a string-and-cup telephone and knits a long scarf so the trees can feel each other’s warmth, and hangs a string of lights so the trees can see each other even on moonless nights.
In a fanciful turn, Britta notices the tees touching each other, and then moving closer. She begins to hope, and although Magnolia’s flowers are late, she does indeed bloom, and “Britta’s hope blossomed too.”
Softly colored illustrations are full of whimsy and touchingly evocative, with faith, friendship, and hope shining through.

The author notes before the title page that trees can indeed help each other and communicate,
and plant science discoveries are the inspiration for the story. Interested adults can learn more from the work of Suzanne Simard.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

What a beautiful book. The illustrations are amazing and really well with the story. I loved how Britta and Grandma were able to have a different few of life and having hope for the Magnolia Tree. It has a beautiful message for young readers. Have hope and unusual friendship are indeed magical and the best ones.

Unique sketchbook style makes this a surefire hit for littles. The generational relationships shown in the book are also a fantastic touch, as is the passage of time illustrated by the protagonist's care and attention to her favorite tree. Highly recommend!

Trees actually do communicate with one another. Recently watched a Korean drama where the story almost centres between two apple trees. I think there's a scientific explanation behind it and the author's note minutely conveyed it.
So, this beautiful story is about the bond between two trees, Apple and Magnolia and Britta, a little girl with powerful and meaningful illustrations which explores the power of unlikely friendship.
I adored the wholesome relationship between Britta and her Nana who knitted a scarf to save both trees and believed Britta whole heartedly even though everybody else just ignored her.
If you want to educate your little one then this picture book is just perfect. It's a tiny book consist few pages and children gonna love this book.

Highly recommended.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you @NetGalley and @flyawaybooks @tiltedaxispress for the #arc in exchange of an honest review.

Britta knows that her favorite trees, Apple and Magnolia, are best friends. When Magnolia does not seem to be doing well, Britta is determined to help the tree survive the winter. With two cups tied to a string, a long scarf, and a strand of lights, Britta connects the two trees to each other so one can support the other. This is such a sweet story of unlikely friendship and the power of hope and positive thinking. The whimsical illustrations are lovely.

This story was very sweet and cute! A little girl takes care of a tree in it’s time of need. She cares and protects the tree and helps nurse it back to health. This is a wonderful story for teaching about the power of (unusual) friendships and supporting others through the ‘not so great’ times. Also, a shout out to loving our Earth!

I do plan to purchase a copy for my classroom library.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Review will be posted on my Instagram @lizzies_little_library_