The Geometree by Kelly Darke

The Geometree: New Children's Book Rooted in Mathematics and Nature

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN—What if a tree could make any kind of shape?

New children’s book author Kelly Darke follows the story of a young girl named Mira as she discovers the whimsical Geometree, able to make leaves of any shape on demand. Through each season, she learns more about shapes until winter leaves the tree bare. Once the tree’s magic fades, Mira is left to explore shapes on her own until spring, when she can proudly show her own creations to the Geometree!

Written for readers ages 5-8, The Geometree blends creativity with curiosity to teach basic principles of geometric shapes. 

The book, which took eight years to write, is founded in Darke’s educational background. She holds a Doctorate of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Illinois Chicago, and has taught mathematics at both the middle school and college level. She enjoys sharing mathematical picture books with her students and her own children. 

“I am inspired by picture books that approach mathematical ideas in ways that invite students to enjoy and wonder about numbers, shapes, and patterns,” she said. 

The Fairy Math Mother

In 2017, Darke started a blog (www.fairymathmother.com) to share the math picture books her family enjoyed reading. A few favorites on her booklist include The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns, and How Much Does a Ladybug Weigh? By Alison Limentani. This venture soon turned into trying her own hand at writing, eventually leading to The Geometree, a fun play on words to touch on the natural and mathematical roots of the short story.

“The idea of The Geometree came to me because I was inspired by the shapes made by trees. It was curious to me that almost every kind makes only one type of shape. What if a tree could make every shape? The term ‘Geometree’ has always been a play on words that, as a math teacher, I've been familiar with,” she shared.

Coming from a background plentiful with playful approaches to learning, alongside her own fascination with nature, this book is more than just a fun read for the family. It encourages kids to be shapemakers through asking what shapes they would like the Geometree to create, with an overarching hope that young readers will also be encouraged to see the shapes that exist naturally in the world around them.

“I hope they never walk by a tree without marveling at the shapes of leaves. I hope they are inspired to think outside the ‘square’ when thinking of different four-sided shapes and beyond,” Darke explained. 

Painting math in a way that is engaging, evoking interest and exciting for curious kids, The Geometree is already a hit among early reviewers who are familiar with the children's literature and mathematical spaces.

Advance Praise

“Beautiful and empowering. My geometry heart is full, and yours will be too. Kelly Darke and Mireille Belajonas have collaborated on a dream of what math can be for all children. Read. Enjoy. Share it widely!” —Christopher Danielson, author of Which One Doesn't Belong? and founder of Math On-A-Stick

“This lyrical, geometric fairy tale will transform the way you look at both shapes and the leaves of trees. The Geometree’s joy and Mira's wonder will have you searching for, sketching, and imagining polygons, constellations, leaf-shapes, and the infinite possibilities of shape-making.” —Amy Alznauer, mathematics lecturer at Northwestern University; author of The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity and The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice, both from Candlewick Press

The Author

Kelly Darke is a math educator who is passionate about sharing the joy and wonder of mathematics with children, parents, and teachers. She lives in Michigan with her husband and three children and never misses an opportunity to admire the shapes her local American basswood, black cherry, and sugar maple trees make.    

The Illustrator

Mireille Belajonas is an award-winning artist whose love for detail is reflected in her watercolors and acrylics, whether depicting botanicals or whimsical fairytales. Born in Belgium, Mireille attended art school at St. Lucas, Antwerp for jewelry design and graduated as a goldsmith. Now she resides on Long Island, NY, where she is an active member of the art community.

The Book

The Geometree

Kelly Darke

Mireille Belajonas, Illustrator

32 pages, 8.5” x 8.5”, Color 

Juvenile Fiction / Mathematics / Science & Nature / Trees & Forests / Fantasy /  Magic / Concepts / Seasons

ISBN: 978-1-968761-48-6, $25.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-968761-49-3, $17.95 (Softcover)

Publication Date: 08/05/26

Nightlight Stories, an imprint of Mission Point Press

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its August 5 publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, explore her blog at www.fairymathmother.com or contact the author at mathbookmagic@gmail.com.

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