Marianne de Pierres

Joon is a keeper in the Timeless Forest…

Joon is a keeper in the Timeless Forest, tending to all the trees and plants.
When a fire threatens everything that she knows, she must make a daring escape to ensure her beloved redwood tree lives on.

A picture book for 4-8 year olds.

Available in hardcover and softcover.


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Reviews for Joon

“I love the pictures and the colours. I was pretending I was Joon in the Forest. We need to keep trees safe, and look after each other.” Penny, 8 years old.

“A beautifully illustrated tale of the cycle of life and defending the world you love.” ~ Trent Jamieson, author of The Giant and The Sea  and Mr Impoppable.

Joon, Big Red and the Unicorn written by Marianne de Pierres, with whimsical watercolor illustrations by Sunshine, is a children’s picture book that seamlessly blends themes of friendship, courage, and renewal. Set in the  Timeless Forest, the story follows Joon, a dedicated Keeper of the Forest, and her friend Big Red, the last Redwood tree of its kind. The Timeless Forest is an enchanted place where unicorns ‘swim across Glow Lake when the moon is full, to chew the fruit from the lolly bushes and the flowers from the tangle vines’ and Joon’s job is to water the stream lilies and midgenberries and collect fallen seeds from all the trees.

Filled with richly evocative language featuring a range of literary devices, this story is full of powerful symbolism, with Big Red representing the ancient wisdom of the natural world, the shiny seed left behind serving as a poignant symbol of hope and rebirth, and the character of Joon herself representative of the future generations the author has dedicated this book to: ‘my children’s children’. The personification of Big Red as a nurturing and protective figure adds emotional resonance to the story, making it a tender and meaningful introduction to loss for young readers. This is a book that will spark conversations about friendship, care for nature, climate change, sacrifice, loss and hope.

In this picture book offering, Marianne de Pierres, an accomplished writer for both adults and children, has woven words into a tale that is both accessible and profound, making it a wonderful choice for readers aged 4 to 8.

Sunshine’s vibrant watercolors bring the magic of the Timeless Forest to life, imbuing the pages with bright charm and a sense of wonder. Her artistic style perfectly complements the story’s whimsical elements and serves as a lighter contrast to the story’s emotional depth.

Visually captivating, rich in language and offering layers of meaning, Joon, Big Red and the Unicorn is an excellent pick for parents, carers and early years educators looking to inspire environmental awareness and a love of story in young readers. Its message of holding on to hope after loss will linger long after the final page. Highly recommended!” ~ Dannika Paterson, author of Heavy and Jacaranda Magic.


Publisher Information
  • ISBN: 9781763837997ISBN-10: 1763837998
  • Published: 26th May 2025
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Number of Pages: 44
  • ISBN: 9781763837980; ISBN-10: 176383798X
  • Published: 26th May 2025
  • Format: Softcover
  • Number of Pages: 44
Marianne de Pierres

Hi All,

after a PhD and signifcant life hiatus, I’m excited to share with you that I will have 3 books coming our next year. A novella in a current series, and novel in a new series and a children’s picture book. Also a secret squirrel TV series in the cooking pot.

The details will be coming soon. But just letting you know… I’m BACK!

MDP xxxx

 

 

 

 

 

As many of you will know, I write across genres and age groups. But publishing a picture book has always been a secret wish. Thanks to Adrianne Fitzpatrick and Books To Treasure Publishing, that dream has finally been realised. I’m delighted to share with you the full cover of my picture book entitled, SERIOUS SAS AND MESSY MAGDA. Below that are some of the internal ullustrations. Rachel Brigden has created such fun pictures for the book!

You can buy the book online through the usual outlets; including FISHPOND, BOOK DEPOSITORY, AMAZON UK, AMAZON, and the publisher themselves. It’s a perfect gift for any young family.

click to enlarge both

Awards

davitt-award  aurealis-award   logo-curtin-university

Peacemaker - Aurealis Award
Best Science Fiction Novel 2014

Curtin University Distinguished Alumni Award 2014

Transformation Space - Aurealis Award
 Best Science Fiction Novel 2010

Sharp Shooter - Davitt Award
Best Crime Novel 2009 (Sisters in Crime Australia) 

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