Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter and Daniel Miyares was recently chosen as the 2023 Youth Selection “Texas Great Read,” representing The Friendly State at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. And it’s easy to see why.
Anne Wynter’s lyrical language tells the story of one little girl’s careful tending of a small seed resulting in a stately tree that’s enjoyed by generations. Daniel Miyares’ pen and ink color palette creates a sense of family warmth, and his visual cues help little readers connect the past and present effortlessly. Together they create a story about connection, comfort, and care. But here are some things this book made me ponder.
NELL PLANTS A TREE MAKES ME THINK ABOUT:
Antoine: The 19th century enslaved gardener in Louisiana noted for becoming the first person to successfully propagate individual pecan trees, maintaining enough uniformity to turn them into a cash crop.
My Grandfather: Most of the time my grandfather’s Christmas gift to the family was a bucket full of pecans that he spent hours selecting and shelling from the tree in my grandparents’ front yard.
My Pecan Tree: A few years ago, I purchased a house with a colossal pecan tree in the front yard. Most of the time when I looked at it, I found myself asking: “Who is going to rake all those leaves? Who is going to wash all that sap? Who is going to eat all those nuts?” But after reading Anne and Daniel’s book I ask different questions: “I wonder who planted this tree? How many families enjoyed its shade? How do I preserve it for the families to come?”
A Quote by Alice Walker: “If I could live as a tree, as a river, as the moon, as the sun, as a star, as the earth, as a rock, I would. … Writing permits me to experience life as any number of strange creations.”
Go pick up this book today and see what it makes you and your little readers think about!
