The Owl Tree

An enchanting tale of a young boy's efforts to save a magical tree, winner of the 1997 Smarties Prize.

The owl-tree is not like any tree Joe has ever seen. It's huge and leafy and shivers like a person; it even seems to speak. Granny Diamond once saw an owl perched among its branches and she has loved the tree ever since. It means the world to her. But her neighbour, Mr Rock, wants to cut it down. Why does he dislike the owl-tree so much? Does it have a secret to tell Joe? And how can he, a boy too scared even to climb the tree, be the one to save it?