111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl (CitizenKid)

by Rina Singh (Author) Marianne Ferrer (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: CitizenKid

In a small village in India, a boy grows up to make a huge difference in his community by planting trees to celebrate the birth of every girl. Based on a true story, this book celebrates environmental sustainability, community activism and ecofeminism.

This is the story of Sundar Paliwal, who is from a small Indian village ruled by ancient customs. As he grows to be a man, Sundar suffers much heartbreak and decides it is time for change to come to his village. Sundar is determined to live in a place where girls are valued as much as boys and where the land is not devastated by irresponsible mining. Sundar's plan? To celebrate the birth of every girl with the planting of 111 trees.

Based on true events in the life of Sundar Paliwal, and written in collaboration with him, Rina Singh's uplifting story shows how one person can make a difference in a community. Beautiful illustrations by Marianne Ferrer sensitively bring the evolution of the village to life.

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Kirkus Reviews

An inspiring picture book about eco-feminism in action in the global south. 

Booklist

Starred Review
an homage to trees, girls, and a planet that is sure to return the favor when we care for it.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Every time a girl is born in the village of Piplantri, in India's northern province of Rajasthan, they plant 111 trees. The initiative was started in 2006 by the village head, Shyam Sundar Paliwal. Singh's story, written in conjunction with Paliwal, describes his life in the village—of walking with his mother to fetch water and growing up to work in a marble mine that was harming the land. After his young daughter died, Paliwal planted trees in her honor and got the idea to plant trees for all the daughters born in the village to honor them and help the land. Back matter explains more about gender inequality, Paliwal's life, and the initiative, which also includes setting aside money for the girls to use when they turn 18. Ferrer's watercolor, gouache, and graphite illustrations show women and girls wearing brightly colored clothing (many also have headscarves) on a barren landscape that fills with green as the trees grow. VERDICT This engaging story serves as a compelling introduction to the concept of eco-feminism and will be great in classrooms for sparking larger conversations.—Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Rina Singh
Rina Singh is an award-winning children's book author and spoken word coach. She has an MFA in creative writing and has written many critically acclaimed books for children. As a writer, she is drawn to real life stories about social justice and the environment. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and have received many starred reviews. Her book Grandmother School won the Christie Harris Children's Literature Prize, and 111 Trees was featured in The New York Times. A lover of poetry, photography, beautiful books, trees, and monks, she lives with her husband and Japanese koi in a blue house in Toronto.

Ishita Jain is an illustrator from Delhi, India, though she is now based in New York. She is an alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India, and the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program at the School of Visual Arts, New York. Ishita loves to draw on location and enjoys documenting the people, places, and stories that surround her. Her work is inspired by day-to-day moments and the wonder that comes from being around nature. The Forest Keeper is Ishita's first picture book.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781525301209
Lexile Measure
950
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Kids Can Press
Publication date
October 20, 2020
Series
CitizenKid
BISAC categories
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
Library of Congress categories
India
Sex discrimination against women
Women's rights
Feminism
Equality
Prevention

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