Our Tree - by Stepanka Sekaninova (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

What if one ordinary tree in your backyard held your whole family's story?

Through every season, this old apple tree has been there: thin and short when Grandpa was a boy, strong enough for Mom to climb (and fall from) as a girl, marked with a heart carved the day Dad first kissed her beneath its branches. It holds a swing Grandpa built for Mom's fifth birthday, a bench Dad built years later, and a young narrator who is already pretty sure that one day they will swing high enough to touch the sun.

Told in warm, poetic narration with richly layered, patchwork style illustrations, Our Tree follows one family across generations, all rooted to a single, ordinary tree that quietly holds their whole story. It's a gentle, reflective read for bedtime or family conversations. Perfect for readers ages 6 to 9 who are curious about where they come from.

• Multigenerational Story: Follows one tree across four generations, from a great-great-grandfather's planting day to a young narrator's present.


• A Gentle Introduction to Life's Seasons: Uses the tree's changing seasons and aging bark to introduce ideas of growth, time, and memory.


• Rich, Patchwork-Style Illustrations: Layered, scrapbook-like artwork by Pavla Bastanová gives each memory its own handmade, keepsake feel.


• Sparks Family History Conversations: Invites young readers to think about their own family's treasured objects and stories, making it a natural conversation starter.


• Perfect for Ages 6 to 9: A quiet, reflective read for bedtime or for opening up conversations about family and legacy.

For more than 75 years, Albatros Media has been crafting original and innovative children's books that are both playful and educational, fostering curiosity and a love of learning in young minds. From novelty and board books to picture books and seasonal titles, Albatros Media creates high-quality books designed to delight, comfort, and inspire.

About the Author

Stepanka Sekaninova is a graduate in Czech and History from the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University. She used to work as a TV reporter and in the production of children's programs but has always longed to write. Now she is realizing her childhood dream as a writer and editor-in-chief at Albatros Media. Stepanka lives in the Czech Republic.

Pavla Bastanova is a graduate in Animation Studies from UMPRUM in Prague and UTB in Zlin. She is an animator, illustrator, and artist who works on both commercial and artistic projects ranging from film to book and magazine graphics and illustration. Pavla currently resides in Olomouc, Czech Republic.