Lily wants a tree for her birthday. Although she and her father live in a tiny dark apartment, she promises to give it water and sun and air. But after she receives her tree—whom she names George—even Lily can’t imagine how their daily walks will change the neighborhood!

With George in a wagon, the two friends explore Lily’s street, greeting neighbors who are happy to sit in George’s shade. It turns out he’s the only tree on the street! Soon Lily’s friends want trees of their own. And together they become a small forest that travels from one end of the city to the other. Once word gets around, more people join in—with plants and flowers, chairs and picnic blankets, books and instruments.

This uplifting new picture book by Marie-Louise Gay is inspired by a project by the landscape artist Bruno Doedens and the late Joop Mulder called Bosk (meaning “forest”) in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden. It reminds us that—if we dare to imagine it—we can change the world, one tree at a time.

Key Text Features

dialogue

illustrations

author's note

gatefold

Correlates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2

Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7

Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.