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Trillions of Trees: A Counting and Planting Book
Kurt Cyrus's Trillions of Trees is an ecological picture book companion to the popular Billions of Bricks, about counting and planting trees.
Grab a shovel and get ready to plant some trees! From poplars to pines, alder, apple, peach, and plum, this rhyming story introduces the concept of orders of magnitude and celebrates the importance of planting different trees and preserving diverse ecosystems. Nurturing a new sapling is one of the first steps in growing hundreds, millions, even trillions of trees.
Christy Ottaviano Books
Grab a shovel and get ready to plant some trees! From poplars to pines, alder, apple, peach, and plum, this rhyming story introduces the concept of orders of magnitude and celebrates the importance of planting different trees and preserving diverse ecosystems. Nurturing a new sapling is one of the first steps in growing hundreds, millions, even trillions of trees.
Christy Ottaviano Books
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2021
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April 20, 2021What happens when instead of ordering "a trillium, please", the garden store mishears the order as "a trillion trees"? Better dust off your shovels and find plenty of places that need shade, windbreaks, or mudslide control! This is a whimsical book to pair with any of the fascinating nonfiction picture books about trees that have come out in recent years.
March 21, 2021
Richie’s Picks: TRILLIONS OF TREES: A COUNTING AND PLANTING BOOK by Kurt Cyrus, Henry Holt/Christy Ottaviano, March 2021, 40p., ISBN: 978-1-250-22907-6
“Like the pine trees lining the winding road”
-- Jim Croce “I Got a Name” (1973)
“Arbor Day, much like Earth Day, is a holiday that celebrates nature. Its purpose is to encourage people to plant trees, and many communities traditionally take the opportunity to organize tree-planting and litter-collecting events on or around the holiday. A popular Arbor Day tradition is to plant a tree in honor or memory of a loved one.”
-- from almanac.com, “Arbor Day 2021: Learn How We Celebrate Arbor Day--And Plant a Tree!”
I planted a tree early last year. Our creaky old street tree, a thirty-foot tall standardized privet, was condemned and removed by the City. It’s tough to lose all the shade and privacy it afforded. A wonderful San Francisco nonprofit, Friends of the Urban Forest, scheduled a planting day, and I signed up. I helped plant street-side trees around our neighborhood, including a Brisbane box tree in front of our house. It started out last spring around eight feet; a year later, it’s more than twelve feet high.
“We never meant to plant a tree.
We wanted something small.
‘A trillium!’ my sister said.
And so she placed a call.”
My most notable tree planting feat took place some 45 years ago, back in the Hamptons. The New York State Department of Conservation sold me 1,500 seedlings, for pennies each, and I covered a couple acres of sandy fill with them. I sometimes go to the satellite view on Google Maps and can see that property now filled with big, old, lush evergreens.
“I’d like to buy a trillium, please,’
said Lizzie to the man.
He thought she said ‘a trillion trees.’
That’s how it all began.”
Kurt Cyrus’s paintings have a distinctive style. And he seems to have a handle on the love many preschoolers have for BIG! and A LOT! For example, see TADPOLE REX or TWENTY BIG TRUCKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
TRILLIONS OF TREES is the tale of a crew of kids who step up--and step down on their shovels--when the miscommunicated order results in the delivery of hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of trees, which they set out to plant all over their neighborhood.
“Our shovel couldn’t hack it.
We bought a couple more,
and then we started digging
like we’ve never dug before.”
The kids plant trees as windbreaks and orchards; for shade; to replace trees lost in a forest fire; and as a conservation measure on steep slopes.
Planting trees to capture carbon may well be the most important reason to get involved. This year, National Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 30. But many states celebrate when it’s a good time for planting trees in their region. Here in California, we officially celebrated last week. (I gave our tree a hug.)
TRILLIONS OF TREES offers a perfect, and perfectly zany, introduction to kids about the benefits and pleasure of planting trees. I encourage teachers, parents, and grandparents to line up a baby tree, a shovel, and a copy of this book.
“My folks say,
Dig it! Dig it! Dig it! Dig it!”
-- The Beatles (1969)
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Like the pine trees lining the winding road”
-- Jim Croce “I Got a Name” (1973)
“Arbor Day, much like Earth Day, is a holiday that celebrates nature. Its purpose is to encourage people to plant trees, and many communities traditionally take the opportunity to organize tree-planting and litter-collecting events on or around the holiday. A popular Arbor Day tradition is to plant a tree in honor or memory of a loved one.”
-- from almanac.com, “Arbor Day 2021: Learn How We Celebrate Arbor Day--And Plant a Tree!”
I planted a tree early last year. Our creaky old street tree, a thirty-foot tall standardized privet, was condemned and removed by the City. It’s tough to lose all the shade and privacy it afforded. A wonderful San Francisco nonprofit, Friends of the Urban Forest, scheduled a planting day, and I signed up. I helped plant street-side trees around our neighborhood, including a Brisbane box tree in front of our house. It started out last spring around eight feet; a year later, it’s more than twelve feet high.
“We never meant to plant a tree.
We wanted something small.
‘A trillium!’ my sister said.
And so she placed a call.”
My most notable tree planting feat took place some 45 years ago, back in the Hamptons. The New York State Department of Conservation sold me 1,500 seedlings, for pennies each, and I covered a couple acres of sandy fill with them. I sometimes go to the satellite view on Google Maps and can see that property now filled with big, old, lush evergreens.
“I’d like to buy a trillium, please,’
said Lizzie to the man.
He thought she said ‘a trillion trees.’
That’s how it all began.”
Kurt Cyrus’s paintings have a distinctive style. And he seems to have a handle on the love many preschoolers have for BIG! and A LOT! For example, see TADPOLE REX or TWENTY BIG TRUCKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
TRILLIONS OF TREES is the tale of a crew of kids who step up--and step down on their shovels--when the miscommunicated order results in the delivery of hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of trees, which they set out to plant all over their neighborhood.
“Our shovel couldn’t hack it.
We bought a couple more,
and then we started digging
like we’ve never dug before.”
The kids plant trees as windbreaks and orchards; for shade; to replace trees lost in a forest fire; and as a conservation measure on steep slopes.
Planting trees to capture carbon may well be the most important reason to get involved. This year, National Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 30. But many states celebrate when it’s a good time for planting trees in their region. Here in California, we officially celebrated last week. (I gave our tree a hug.)
TRILLIONS OF TREES offers a perfect, and perfectly zany, introduction to kids about the benefits and pleasure of planting trees. I encourage teachers, parents, and grandparents to line up a baby tree, a shovel, and a copy of this book.
“My folks say,
Dig it! Dig it! Dig it! Dig it!”
-- The Beatles (1969)
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
September 14, 2021
Calling this a counting book is a bit of a stretch as you don't actually count up to a trillion though can you imagine? Any nursery that could deliver a trillion trees is impressive! I enjoyed reading all the names of the trees and the tree facts at the end. The illustrations were my favorite part of the book, lively and entertaining. However, the rhymes in the text were bumpy and I kept falling out of the story as I tried to make the lines scan in my head.
May 22, 2023
Funny premise with good rhymes and lots of tree name drops and what their purposes are or the different areas they live too. Really liked this one
October 2, 2021
Lofty concept, sappy rhymes. An appendix with illustrations of each tree mentioned in the text would have been a helpful addition for budding botanists and aspiring arborists.
April 5, 2021
A great book for tree lovers everywhere. Through simple texts and lovely illustrations readers are introduced to some of the purposes trees serve (windbreaks, shading creeks, anchoring soil on hills and mountains, etc.) and which types are best at doing those jobs. At the end the characters peek out from amongst branches to share a few tips regarding the planting of trees.
I like how this starts with a family planting trees but then neighbors and strangers pitch in until there is a nice little, hardworking group. This would be great for Earth Day or when you're teaching about trees or conservation.
I like how this starts with a family planting trees but then neighbors and strangers pitch in until there is a nice little, hardworking group. This would be great for Earth Day or when you're teaching about trees or conservation.
September 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The premise is based on a funny misunderstanding and then the book goes on to show in beautiful, engaging illustrations, all sorts of different places you might want to plant trees for all sorts of purposed, from decoration, to food production (growing fruit), to preventing erosion and it does all this in a light, entertaining way. There is nothing heavy handed or preachy about this book, but it could lead to wonderful discussions on all sorts of topics from tree varieties, tree habitat, counting, and reforestation. I would absolutely use it in my classroom if I were still teaching elementary school.
August 3, 2021
“They build the soil. They clean the air. They work their wonders everywhere.”
Lizzie said she wanted a trillium, but the man her “a trillion trees.” And so he sends trees of every kind and the family begins planting. What else can they do? When their yard is full, the move on to lining the streets in town, a county park, creating orchards and windbreaks and replacing trees that have been burned in a fire. Why not? And just when they get home, exhausted from their planting expedition, more trees arrive. “Grab a tree. It’s going to be a long way to a trillion.”
Lizzie said she wanted a trillium, but the man her “a trillion trees.” And so he sends trees of every kind and the family begins planting. What else can they do? When their yard is full, the move on to lining the streets in town, a county park, creating orchards and windbreaks and replacing trees that have been burned in a fire. Why not? And just when they get home, exhausted from their planting expedition, more trees arrive. “Grab a tree. It’s going to be a long way to a trillion.”
June 23, 2022
A child calling a plant nursery "accidentally" orders a trillion trees. They take the opportunity to plant trees all over their community while offering environmental conservation and science tips at the same time.
The counting aspect of this book doesn't work. The words trillion, thousands and hundreds are presented but without context they mean nothing. Additional scientific info would have been wonderful.
Recommended for a planting, gardening, tree and/or conservation, environmentalism and science storytime.
The counting aspect of this book doesn't work. The words trillion, thousands and hundreds are presented but without context they mean nothing. Additional scientific info would have been wonderful.
Recommended for a planting, gardening, tree and/or conservation, environmentalism and science storytime.
February 3, 2023
Maybe 3.5 stars. I liked the concept of this quite a bit, although as a counting book, it falls short (kids who are still interested in counting books don't generally understand the concept of trillions. I am fine with the trillions, it just bothers me that it's called a counting book). Anywho, the rhymes are also a bit clunky, which makes me reluctant to read it out loud. Still, something I would happily read with a single child, and it would be very enjoyable to read as a family and talk about different kinds of trees and planting some together.
April 8, 2021
This book offers a humorous rhyming romp as one miscommunication turns into an avalanche of trees. The rhymes keep the rhythm of the story rolling, cleverly inserting tree after tree type into the text. There is also a generous amount of conservation information sprinkled throughout, though it needs an adult willing to discuss this, as it is inferred through sparse text and illustration only. It isn't so much a counting book as a book about trees and conservation, but the title can be forgiven.
April 13, 2021
TRILLIONS OF TREES is a rollicking rhyming book about two kids who accidentally order a trillion trees. I will admit I wish disappointed with the lack of counting, given that the cover clearly states "counting and planting book" but I still think this would be fun to base a math lesson on large numbers around. The huge variety of trees that they plant is also interesting and could lead to interesting science as well. Or, this is just a preposterous story that's quite amusing.
June 12, 2021
the story involves a slip of the tongue, in which an order for trillium is misinterpreted to be "trillions of trees". The outrageous story unfolds with Cyrus's lively text, cleverly incorporated science information, and spreads that impress with relative scale, character inclusion, and concept development.
A leafy surprise awaits on the final turn, as various facts are shared by characters who peek out from among one of those trillion trees.
A leafy surprise awaits on the final turn, as various facts are shared by characters who peek out from among one of those trillion trees.
July 4, 2022
Close to a 5 for me.
The book names many different species of trees, which is nice. And there is repetition, rhyme, and word play (homonyms - for instance yew for you).
Kids will learn the important purposes of trees (windbreak, stop erosion, shad, food, clean air), and understand that they start small and grow big.
The last page includes facts and tips.
The book covers lots of ground. (Pun intended)
The book names many different species of trees, which is nice. And there is repetition, rhyme, and word play (homonyms - for instance yew for you).
Kids will learn the important purposes of trees (windbreak, stop erosion, shad, food, clean air), and understand that they start small and grow big.
The last page includes facts and tips.
The book covers lots of ground. (Pun intended)
April 12, 2021
Clever way to introduce conservation and reforestation through a book about trees. The nursery misunderstands the order for trillium and instead sends the first of one trillion trees to this family. Readers see them travel all over to plant the first thousand trees. Only to return home to another truckload of trees. Lovely illustrations and introduction to all sorts of trees.
November 20, 2024
The rare fun nature book, people! Lots of rhyming and naming different trees throughout the book -- it would be fun to look up photos of these trees after or during a second reading of this book to see what they look like in real life. I think calling this book "a counting" book is a bit of a stretch, but sure.
February 23, 2025
I liked this one a lot - it was well written and well illustrated, and it covered a lot of tree information and vocabulary. It just didn't compare to Billions of Bricks because it didn't introduce math concepts in the same, fun way. I almost rated it lower due to reading order and expectations, but that isn't really fair to ding it for.
April 28, 2021
A fun celebration of trees. A misunderstood order results in deliveries of trillions of trees--all types and sizes, Great illustrations make this a fun read aloud for spring, Earth Day, Arbor Day, or just to celebrate the diversity of nature.
November 20, 2021
This story teaches students about the various types of trees. It also throws in some counting along with the story. The message can be beneficial for students as it is about regrowing our earth. Students can learn about poplar or pine trees all while viewing colorful drawings.
December 6, 2022
Lizzie's family ends up planting thousands of trees all over. Names are listed, but most are seedlings, so difficult to identify them. The final page has a few practical tips from people buried among tree branches.
August 7, 2023
A fun introduction to different types of trees and the role they play in our environment. Would be great to read on Earth Day or any day.
Themes: trees, books that rhyme
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2021
Themes: trees, books that rhyme
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2021
March 28, 2021
Kid approved! My 7-year-old and 4-year-old said, "I LOVED IT!" after we finished reading.
April 19, 2021
Other than the secondhand stress I got from imagining having to pay for a trillion trees, this is another great Kurt Cyrus book--beautifully illustrated and introducing great counting concepts.
April 26, 2021
Creative, fun-filled story that talks about the importance of trees. Would make an excellent read for Earth Day!
May 9, 2021
Enjoyed this but will know better if Arden likes it.
May 19, 2021
Funny rhyming text creates a rhythm that can’t be topped.
June 17, 2021
I love how easily this books rhymes— it just flows off the tongue. However, the title is a bit misleading: it’s not a counting book— but it is a planting book!
June 17, 2021
A fantastic way to introduce little ones to the many uses of trees.
July 7, 2021
A perfect choice for a tree-themed story time or classroom unit. This lively rhyming read-aloud is carried along by a sense of urgency and rooted in solid tree info. Highly recommended for ages 4-8.
July 21, 2021
A girl and her brother plant a trillion trees after making an ordering mistake. Elementary and up. Nice variety of trees and the book moves at a good pace
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews