Written by Jackson Mercer and designed by Rachel Jackson, Wise Friends tells the story of Raviv, a young boy who has learned to nurture and befriend the trees around him. The story aims to remind us of the wisdom of our sacred traditions, the wisdom of the natural world and their interconnectedness. Published for Tu Bishvat 5781, The Jewish Holiday referred to as The Birthday of the Trees , Wise Friends is an expedition to a world of wonder and an adventure into perception, growth, and understanding.

The intention of Wise Friends is to turn the definition of what a ‘children’s book’ can be on its head. Why can’t children’s books feature softer color palettes and art found in museums around the world rather than bright, cartoonish illustrations? Why can’t children’s books include millennium-old Hebrew and Aramaic wisdom teachings alongside creative and useful interpretations rather than Jewish books that lack depth of content and context? Why can’t children’s books be complex rather than simple?