The Comfort tree

Deep in the forest stands a very tall tree. In stunning silk paintings, the author-artist shows how a variety of forest animals and birds find comfort around the tree through the seasons. As night falls, the animals can be heard calling good night to each other from the boughs of the tree that gives them comfort.
ISBN: 9781738165230 Category: Children
Link to book review:CanLit for LittleCanadians


Light in the Forest
3 reviews for The Comfort Tree

  1. Rated 5 out of 5Karen Theriault, CEO , Valley Regional Hospital Foundation – May 30, 2024
    “Holly Carr is a shining example of the magic that happens when talent and passion merge. Through her latest book, The Comfort Tree, she has given all of us a beautiful gift through her impactful approach to wellness.”

  2. Rated 5 out of 5Robert Bateman, Canadian Wildlife Artist – May 30, 2024
    “Holly Carr’s art has a vigour and vitality, which is attractive to all, especially children. The story of the Comfort Tree carries an important message and has the potential to improve mental health awareness through experiences with nature. The trees, when walking in nature, give off chemicals that make you feel better. In a sense your cells rejoice.”

  3. Rated 5 out of 5Erica McGill, Director, Health, Counselling & Accessible Learning Acadia University – May 30, 2024
    The Comfort Tree is a beautiful story that invites children of all ages into the magic and healing power of nature. In a world that can often feel overwhelming and chaotic, helping our children learn ways of comforting and calming themselves is vital for building a strong sense of self and in the belief that we can count on and trust in others. The Comfort Tree is a vibrant and engaging read that shows just how important connection is to us all.
"Light in the Forest" was selected as one of the top children's books of Spring 2021 by the Canadian Children's Book Centre, Toronto.
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Gold Award Winner in Picture Book Category. Moon Beam Children's Book Award

Light in the Forest, by acclaimed Canadian artist Holly Carr, is a picture book filled with beautiful paintings of forest animals. It offers an inspiring message to children struggling with anxiety: “Do not be afraid. I am not afraid.” During a time when many children are struggling with the fear of the unknown, Light in the Forest is an important and timely book.
Contact your local indie bookstore to order.  ISBN: 978-1-77058-995-7
Also available on Amazon and Indigo
Articles and Press Coverage
Atlantic Books Today Book Review
Global News Interview
Saltwire Article
Our Children Article

Selected Reviews
Dr. Larry Recommends 2020
This is a staggering picture book creation with simple text introducing animals of the forest. (The deer is watching; The hare is leaping;). Cleverly each of the verbs is featured in varied large fonts, drawing attention to the  full page close up images of the animals of the forest (presented in monochromatic grey tones). The refrain, “I am not afraid.’ But wait… what is that?  that appears on alternate pages, not only encourage prediction, but provide comfort as readers contemplate lush colourful illustrations depicting the peaceful family. lives of the raven, the wolf, the deer, the hare the owl, the fox, the bear.  This is a read book to be read aloud more than once. The syntactic pattern and limited text invites successful  independent reading. This is a book that finds comfort and solace in the light in the forest. It is a careful reminder to children who may be afraid of something, that they are not alone.  Bonus: A full-age spread concludes the book that features over 25 animals indigenous to North America. This book is wonderful picture book.

Sylvia McNicoll – June 5, 2020

Stunning illustrations of wildlife accentuate a timely message: Do not be afraid, you are not alone. he eyes of of the raven, hare deer etc, represent the unknown to the reader but once the full animal is revealed, the narrator declares themselves unafraid. Even if it is a bear growling or a linx lurking.

Rated 5 out of 5 Kezia Calvert – June 9, 2020
I read this book to my 5 year old daughter and she loved the unique selection of animals accompanied by the visually stunning tapestry of the forest at night. By the end of the book she was able to chime in with the “I am not afraid” mantra. This book successfully addresses the important concept of fear in a very beautiful way. I highly recommend this book to anyone with young children.

Rated 5 out of 5 Emily Seddon – June 20, 2020
The imagery in this book is amazing. There are many different animals featured here and I love the message behind the book. There is no complex storyline or thoughts, so this book is perfect for small toddlers as well. My 5-year-old loved it as much as my 1-year-old.

Rated 5 out of 5 Lisa Doucet, Co-manager of Woozles Children’s Bookstore – November 22, 2020
Lush, light-infused illustrations that are richly textured and intricately detailed bring a myriad of woodland creatures vividly to life in this magnificent new picture book from this beloved artist. But readers must find their way to the light: at first, there is eerie darkness and each animal appears to be sinister and menacing until you turn the page to see things differently. With the repeating refrain of “Do not be afraid” followed on each subsequent page by “I am not afraid”, readers of all ages are invited to face the darkness and look beyond the surface to see the beauty that was there all along. It is an elegant, poetic look at fear in the face of uncertainty and a promise that even in the midst of dark times and shadows, there is light and hope.

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Holly in front of her life size painting.