I have to admit, I am a mom who hugs trees. There’s even a black and white self-portrait of me hugging a cedar tree in my mother’s house. Since before my children were born, I have hiked to a sacred yew tree on my land, hugged it, and said my prayers several times a week.

Sometimes my children join in, sometimes they just explore the yew grove. Last winter, my hugging yew tree fell over after a great snow fall. I still hug it, and it is still alive, but I must lean over to hug my tree now.

My daughter can definitely relate to My Mom Hugs Trees, written by Robyn Ringgold and illustrated by Vidya Vasudevan. This rhyming book is the story of a mother that not only hugs trees, but she talks to plants, rescues bugs instead of killing them, plants seeds from the fruit they eat, asks the flowers if she can pick them, etc. OK, she’s a hippie!

After bedtime stories, Mom says good night to the moon and stars. “Good night, Moon. Good night, Stars. Thank you for your light from afar.

The only difference between the mom in this book and myself, is I do kill ticks, but my daughter hears me tell the dead ticks, “I hope you have an auspicious rebirth,” as I dispose of them.

My Mom Hugs Trees is published by Solar Publishing.

Solar Publishing promotes cultural awareness, planetary responsibility and holistic living. We are an energetic combination of passion, creativity and a genuine interest in enhancing life on this planet.

We are committed to educating and uplifting youth so that they can live responsibly and be equipped to make conscious choices as they grow. Children are our future and Solar Publishing’s focus is to nourish their minds and help them to feel connected to nature and diverse peoples in hopes that they understand themselves and their role on the planet.

Solar Publishing books are printed on wood-free or recycled paper. Through a
partnership with the organization Trees for the Future, a tree is planted for every book sold.

My Mom Hugs Trees is a delightful book, that may just inspire you to go hug a tree with your children. The illustrations are fun, and “You have to admit-jumping over bugs is kind of fun to do!”