The Girl Who Loves Trees, written by Nancy Cooper and illustrated by Hawlii Pichette. Owlkids, 2026. $22.95 ages 4 and up

 

"By now, the sun is high in the sky. 
I look way up and see the turkey 
vultures circling. And I hear 
chickadees chirping as they flit 
from tree to tree. 
"Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!
Cheeseburger!" calls Grampa." 

A visit with her grandfather on the reserve, and a chance to spend time together in nature makes for a very exciting weekend for a young girl. Their time together begins with a dinner of baked beans, Grampa's favorite. After a good night's sleep, the two welcome a new day with tobacco, and their grateful thanks. After Grampa, it's his granddaughter's turn to say her prayer of gratitude. 

"Meegwetch, Creator, for giving me my grampa and my 
family. And thank you for all the trees." 

They hold the tobacco for a moment, and then place it on the ground near a tree. The young one loves all trees and thinks of herself as 'a tree protector'. They return home with a task in mind; to prepare for a community feast. They will offer cedar to the drummers, causing the girl to worry. Grampa assures her that she need not worry. As they share knowledge of cedar trees, they head off to the forest for a visit to Grampa's cabin. The girl is pleased to let him know what she knows about the trees she so loves. 

Their time together is shared in clear language that offers young readers a chance to understand the connections the two have to the natural world that surrounds them and offers them peace. They note the trees, the birds, and the stream that are all integral parts of the forest. Grampa shares stories from his childhood to help his granddaughter understand why the trees are so important to their people. As she helps cut cedar branches for the celebration, she again offers her gift of thanks. 

Final pages hold an explanation for the learning that has taken place, and the connections made between humans and nature. Albert Dumont is described as the inspiration for Ms. Cooper's depiction of Grampa, and offers reasons why. There is also a short list of words to know as the story is read: Creator, Meegwetch, Nokomis and Tree Spirit.