A poetic and moving picture book biography celebrating the life and work of the visionary Japanese-American woodworking artist George Nakashima.

Listening to Trees tells the illuminating story of artist George Nakashima’s journey from a wilderness-loving child in the Pacific Northwest to modern artist with a vision. For him, these two passions went hand in hand. He brought the peace and quiet he found in the woods into his workshop, where deep focus, hard work, and personal connections turned his art into a way of life.

Author Holly Thompson brings her flare for lyricism to bear through the use of Haibun poetry (a combination of haiku and prose), providing a lyrical and accessible introduction to this singular modern artist. Her text is matched by the earthy but airy illustrations of Toshiki Nakamura. Additional material at the back of the book shares quotes, a timeline of his life, and resources for learning more about poetry and woodworking.