“Before a grip on a branch / and a fall to the ground / and a scrape / and a leap / and a reach for the top, / before anyone finds out how high they can climb, / Nell picks up a seed.” Nell, first shown as a young Black girl, nurtures a seed to sapling and eventually plants a tree. The tree grows up, as does Nell, who is joined by a friend-turned-husband. Eventually the mature tree, now casting shade and pecans on their lawn, becomes a haven and hangout for Nell’s visiting grandchildren. A clever poetic pattern, echoed by fabric patterns in the illustrations, tells the story of a family tree, both literally and figuratively, with careful clues providing context for time and relationships. Notes from the author and illustrator pay homage to the role of trees and pecan harvests in their respective childhoods. (Ages 6-9)

This gorgeous picture book shows how one little girl's careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational Black family. For Earth Day and every day! Perfect for fans of Matt de la Peña and Oge Mora.

Before her grandchildren climbed the towering tree,

explored its secret nests,

raced to its sturdy trunk,

read in its cool shade,

or made pies with its pecans...

Nell buried a seed.

And just as Nell's tree grows and thrives with her love and care, so do generations of her close-knit family.

Inspired by the pecan trees of the creators' own childhoods, Anne Wynter's lyrical picture book, brought to life with breathtaking illustrations by Daniel Miyares, brims with wonder and love.