The Red Tree is not your typical cheerful picture book—it's a meditation on depression, loneliness, and the persistence of hope, told through Shaun Tan's hauntingly beautiful surreal illustrations. It's the kind of book that makes you stop and stare at each page, trying to decode the symbolism (fish falling from the sky, a girl trapped in a bottle, a red leaf hidden in each spread).

This is emotionally sophisticated stuff. It doesn't pretend that positive thinking fixes everything or that bad days are just about choosing happiness. Instead, it sits with the darkness and says, 'Yeah, sometimes it's really hard.' And then, quietly, it offers hope—not as a guarantee, but as a small, growing thing.

It's best as a read-together book, especially for kids who are going through a tough time or who need help naming big, confusing feelings. Some kids will find it profound; others might find it too abstract or heavy. But if your child is ready for it, this is the kind of book that can become a touchstone—something they return to when they need to remember that hard feelings pass.

Just don't expect giggles and snuggles. This is art-house picture book territory, and it's brilliant.