Nell Plants a Tree

by Anne Wynter, Daniel Miyares (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Family, Fiction, African American, Gardening

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2023

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this sweet story of a girl planting a tree that went on to bless her family for generations. GORGEOUS illustrations. The tree is a pecan, which is special to me because my grandmother had one in her yard, and I loved gathering from it!

[Heather Stigall · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I describe this glorious book? It’s about little everyday miracles that happened yesterday to create memories for years to come. It’s about growth, discovery, play, comfort, traditions, and family connections. It’s a poem that connects past and present, and it’s a piece of art to be admired and cherished. Do yourself a favor and read NELL PLANTS A TREE (maybe even read it under the shade of a tree). And then read it again. And again. And again.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully told. A story about a pecan tree and the many rewards it gives to the young girl that plants it.

The author’s note, along with the illustrator’s, reminds me of cracking open pecans with my mom as a kid. We would shell them all and put them in a large bowl and eat them as snacks. Even better when they were baked into a delicious pie.

My girls share this same tradition of shelling pecans with my parents. I love that this has been passed down to them.

A lovely book with wonderful illustrations.

[Amberlea Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gloriously interwoven story about a pecan tree planted by a little girl that grows as her family grows, and all the wonderful gifts the tree provides. This book is pure magic. Masterfully written by Anne Wynter with sweet and beautiful illustrations by Daniel Miyares, I can't stop looking at this book!

[Laura Gehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept hearing about this book, and I wondered, "Could it really be that good?" It is! Beautiful text and gorgeous art tell the story (sort of backwards!) of a pecan tree being planted, and growing, and becoming many things to many people (a spot to read, the end of a race, a source of nuts for pie). A book that will live on for generations to come.

[Rachel N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Emotional. Warm. Patient. Goosebumps.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story of legacy. Also, a great resource to teach sequence.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are part of a family with parents like my parents who loved their flower and vegetable gardens, you find yourself gardening with the same optimism and hope. Even today with both my parents gone, I find myself continuing to overturn the soil, plant the tiniest of seeds, and know with proper care a flower or vegetable will push through that dirt and make something beautiful. Regardless of knowing the science behind seeds and the plants they produce, it is still a miracle to me.

Together as a family we took avocado pits and grew avocado trees. We planted fruit trees, nut trees, shade trees, and a blue spruce twenty-six years ago in memory of my father. For every year my sweet Xena has been gone, I have planted a tree to commemorate the joy she gave me. The thing is when you plant something, it is an act of faith.

Author Anne Wynter and artist Daniel Miyares have collaborated to bring readers a book, Nell Plants A Tree (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, January 31, 2023), that shows this optimism, hope, and faith. A single act causes something to happen. Some might say what happens is expected and ordinary. There is nothing ordinary about the sight of a majestic tree or the generations of family bound to that tree, each weathering the storms of life.

My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Ellen Leventhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

NELL PLANTS A TREE, beautifully written by Anne Wynter and just as beautifully illustrated by Daniel Miyares is a book children will want to hear over and over again. Have you ever wondered who planted that tree that gives you shade? That you climb? That you look at out your window every day? Wynter takes us on a lovely trip back to how a special pecan tree was planted and all the wonderful things it has given children of future generations. This is a "Can't-miss."

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

With poetic text and stunning illustrations, we are given a window into a young girl's family life centered around the planting and history of a pecan tree. Filled with scenes of relatable family ups and downs this book is a celebration of generations and connection. It is one you will want to read again and again and certainly made me wonder when and whom planted some of the trees that my own family events revolve around.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, gentle, and magical book that traces the passage of time through the growth of a tree and the family that also grows around it.

[Carol V · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is two-fold. Nell plants a seed as a child - thus one part. But this tree continues to grow for many generations to enjoy - thus the other part. Yet these two parts work as one great story showing family togetherness through the years and generations. The tree is a happy, vital part of the family joy. The colors are vivid and cheerful in this story. Readers may think about the trees around them and how special these trees are.

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

NELL PLANTS A TREE is a beautiful lyrical account of the roots once planted. It's a story about family, passage of time and the celebration of strength. Anne Wynter thoughtfully toggles between two moments in time. The beautiful artwork by Daniel Miyares brings each growth season and mark in time to life. I highly recommend this gorgeous picture book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, masterfully interwoven story that seemlessly moves back and forth about a pecan tree planted by a little girl that grows as her family grows, and all the wonderful gifts it provides.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of planting a tree. Sadly I've tried and failed recently - poor twigs sticking up out of the ground. I don't grow things well.

Nell does though. Nell plants a tree which in turn allows the author to explore the idea of family history alongside nature, history, and a dozen other topics which are woven so skillfully that you come away feeling refreshed, more curious about the world around you, and yes, with a desire to plant a tree of your own.

You know, I think I might try again. Maybe I'll try a bigger tree to start with. I'll be less likely to kill it.

Highly recommended story on every level. This is one I wish I owned and hadn't gotten from the library. Onto the list it goes!

[Jillian Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventures have begun in and around the pecan tree. "Nell Plants a Tree," a NCTE winning book, tells the incredible story of what happened before her grandchildren. Prior to all of the finding treasures, watching birds hatch, and making pecan pies, Nell planted a pecan tree. Not only did she just plant the seed in the ground, but she took such good care of the seed. Now, readers get the story of what pride Nell takes in her tree. "Nell Plants a Tree" carries the theme of appreciation.This appreciation goes not only to the growth of the tree, but the growth of her family. This being made into a picture book also provides a greater value to the meaning. The illustrations bring to life the connection from past to present as the poem goes on. "Nell Plants a Tree" should be a book that you not only use as a book in your classroom library, but also as a book that cycles during your classroom read alouds.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous story of a beloved pecan tree that children thoroughly enjoy. Told in alternating time-frames, children are shown playing on and around the tree, and a young girl is shown planting the seed for the tree and encouraging it to grow. Perceptive readers will notice that the girl who plants the tree and the young boy helping her, grow up to be the grandparents of the children in the story.

The only fault I found is that young readers may very well be confused by the back and forth of the time frames.

[Savanna Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nell plants a tree, and this picture book plants deep thoughts and ideas! This poetry book tells of how the protagonist, Nell, plants a tree that provides for generations of her family to come. The themes of nature and community shine bright through the illustrations and author’s style. Plant new ideas of culture appreciation by using this book!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful, peaceful, lyrically written-- I am in love!

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and tender family story about love and nurturing, and the way that we can care for ourselves and those who come after us too 💕

[SaraKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story showing a tree's growth along with the family who planted it. Multiple generations of family enjoy the tree. Lovely illustrations.

[JF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great drawings. Great idea for planting trees. Slightly unrealistic expectations on how fast a tree can grow. The notes at the end by the author and illustrator were absolutely beautiful and touching

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little story.

[Marissa Wooters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is different from other picture books because it is a poem. This book is about an intergenerational African American family with the protagonist being a young girl, Nell, who finds peace in planting and taking care of her pecan tree. A NCTE 2024 Notable Book in Poetry, this poem follows Nell and her family as the pecan tree becomes an important factor to their lives and gives the readers a sweet and memorable ending. This book would be a great one to add to a classroom library if teachers are looking for poems and books that incorporate diversity.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's plenty to like in this quiet picture book about a young girl carefully planting a seed. We see her patience and wonder as the seed grows into a bountiful tree that will be enjoyed for generations. The illustrations are gorgeous but sometimes a little confusing about what is in the past and what is in the present, but otherwise this is a comforting story that connects the love of nature with a loving community.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is lyrical, filled-with-heart perfection! With beautiful illustrations from Daniel Miyares and Anne Wynter's brilliant story-telling, NELL PLANTS A TREE is magic - a lovely message about family and where our roots begin. I'm already planning to gift this book to my grandkids (my children are 11 and 13 so...). A must-read for all readers!

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely! Amazon says '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.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about family, legacy, and memories. I was the child who always wondered who came before me and who used to climb a certain tree before I did. Maybe it was because I did not have a large extended family and wished for big family gatherings. This book will make everyone wish they were part of this family.

[Janet Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming story celebrates the way a single act, nurturing a pecan sprout, can influence a family across time. When Nell finds a newly sprouted pecan seed, her curiosity inspires a series of decisions—planting the seed, watering the sapling, and finally planting the young tree. The maturing tree mirrors Nell’s growth from child to grandmother in this imaginative weaving of past and present.

Wynter’s cleverly structures the text around the notion of what had to happen in the past to create opportunities in the present—Before there’s a pie to savor, a nest of baby birds to admire, or a tree to climb—Nell tends a seed and plants a tree.

Miyares warm, detailed paintings move from elegantly simple to richly detailed. From the first page to the last, the images perfectly reflect and enrich the lyrical text.

This thoughtful tribute to the value of trees immediately reminded me of the first two lines of the poem by Lucy Larcom, "He who plants a tree. Plants a hope." NELL PLANTS A TREE offers multiple opportunities to inspire a discussion of trees—their value in nature and their importance in the everyday life of people.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featuring the newest special book by Anne Wynter ('Everybody in The Red Brick Building' with Oge Mora) and Daniel Miyares ('Big and Small and In-Between' with Ryan Higgins), the story is told mostly in verse, showing little Nell growing up with all the family, and with a pecan tree. Told in a truly special style, Anne Wynter goes back to the beginning, as in "Before a grip on a branch/and a fall to the ground. . . Nell picks up a seed." Throughout the illustrations of the story/memory, Daniel Miyares gives a peek at all the things that happen throughout the years as the tree grows and grows–big enough to climb far up to the very top, to gather nuts for a tasty pie, and for families to feast in the shade.
Though I never had a pecan tree in my yard, I do have wonderful memories of picking up pecans with my father in a large pecan grove near their home. Both Miyares and Wynter share their own memories in their notes at the back.