在树上看书的英文表达可以是:

He was reading a book in the tree.
He sat in the tree and read a book.

这个表达来源于英语中的动词"read",意思是"看书,阅读",可以用来描述一个人正在做的动作。另外,在这个句子中,"tree"是一个名词,意思是"树"。

下面是一些其他使用这个表达的英文例句,以及它们的中文翻译:

She spent hours reading in the tree house. (她在树屋里看书花了几个小时。)
He cpmbed up the tree and settled in to read his favorite book. (他爬上树,安静地看自己最喜欢的书。)
The children loved reading under the big tree in the park. (孩子们喜欢在公园里的大树下看书。)