Wynter, Anne. Nell Plants a Tree. Daniel Miyares, Illus. Harper Collins/Brazer & Bray, 01/2023. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-0-06-286577-9. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.
Long ago, Nell planted a seed and now a pecan tree has grown, providing a special place for her large and loving family to explore and enjoy. This clever, well-constructed story depicts Nell, as a young girl, finding a seed, nurturing a sprout, digging a hole, and watering the young sapling. Scenes of the past are interwoven with the present day as various family members find a bird’s nest in the tree, read a book while leaning against the trunk, and dine al fresco under the boughs. The gentle verse conveys the relationship between Nell’s actions and today’s bounty: “. . . before anyone finds how high they can climb, Nell picks up a seed.” Illustrations in luminous fall colors provide a perfect complement to the text, bringing the story full circle as Nell, now the matriarch of a multi-generational family, shows her granddaughter how to plant her own seed. All characters have brown skin. Readers will want to return to the pages more than once to track changes in the tree and people over time.
Jenny Andrus—Independent