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Max is a young man who lives with his grandmother. He is unhappy and upset, so he goes for a walk. His dad is in the army and his mom is a busy nurse. He is at a new school where kids make fun of his name. He wants to fly back to his old home and school. He wishes for someone to talk to. He sits down in the woods and his feelings come pouring out. Suddenly he hears from an old tree about deep roots and things always coming back. It’s his own tree for listening and for coming back. Max begins to feel better, his troubles seem smaller, and he plans to bring his family back to listen. Everyone can find their own listening tree. Or plant one.
Story Concept by Patrick A. Shea
Pat brought to Max and the Listening Tree his deep appreciation for the intertwining of the natural world with the emotional well-being of children.
Pat attended Stanford University, Oxford University, and Harvard Law School and served in the Clinton Administration as the Director of the Bureau of Land Management and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior for Lands and Minerals. Pat has taught Agronomy at Kansas State University, was a Fellow and Grant Advisor at Westminster College and an adjunct professor at BYU Law School. He is an Associate Research Professor of Biology at the University of Utah. Pat currently practices law in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he resides with his wife Debbie.
Written by Paula Ray, MS.Ed., Psy.D
Paula and her cousin Pat Shea collaborated on the creation of Max and the Listening Tree and share a deep appreciation for the intertwining of the natural world with the emotional well0being of children. Paula brought years of experience as a psychologist and educator with expertise in early childhood social/emotional education and mental health to writing the story.
Illustrated by Danny Reneau
A self-taught artist, Danny combined his love of design and color in the illustrations of Max and the Listening Tree.
Danny began drawing in the fourth grade. Inspired by other artists, music, nature, and his family, Danny sketches each illustration in pencil and then brings his work to life with watercolor and ink. Prior to his work on this book, Danny illustrated The Magic of Winter. In addition to painting, Danny enjoys going on walks through local nature reserves with his family. Danny and his wife Jeri reside in Lincoln, Nebraska with their three sons.