The Family Tree is a story about a family of squirrels who lose their home when the youngest brother, Elliot, sells the tree they grew up in to a beaver for development. Forced to go their separate ways they remain in touch and see how differently their lives turn out. Although only Elliot prospered from the sale of the tree, he does not learn what is important until tragedy strikes and a forest fire threatens all he has.
The reader is invited on their rocky but rewarding journey to discover in the end who the real heroes are. The moral of the story is that making decisions that allow the more gentle and sensitive individuals to prosper is good for everyone, for it is often their contributions which make the world go round the right.