It’s time for another Perfect Picture Book Friday round-up and I have the most beautiful book to share with you today!
Not only a beautiful book, but an amazing giveaway as well!
Author Roxanne Troup is offering a free 30-minute author Q&A with a classroom or writing/critique group! How amazing is that?! All you have to do to qualify for the random drawing is leave a comment below by Thursday April 13th at 3 PM!
Before we look at her lovely book, I am delighted to announce that the winner of a signed copy of last week’s Perfect Picture Book, Hide and Shh! by Christina Dendy, is MARTY BELLIS! Congratulations, Marty! Please email me with your snail mail address and who you’d like the book signed to so we can get it on its way!
Now. Are you ready?
Title: My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me
Written By: Roxanne Troup
Illustrated By: Kendra Binney
Publisher: Yeehoo Press, April 11, 2023, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: grandparent/child relationship, nature/gardening, family love
text copyright Roxanne Troup 2023, illustration copyright Kendra Binney 2023, Yeehoo Press
Opening:
“My grandpa planted a tree for me on the day I was born.
It was a pecan tree.
Grandpa’s orchard is full of pecan trees – some older than he is.
But my tree is his favorite.”
text copyright Roxanne Troup 2023, illustration copyright Kendra Binney 2023, Yeehoo Press
Brief Synopsis: Of all the trees in Grandpa’s orchard, the one he planted for his granddaughter is his favorite. The other trees are cultivated to provide income, but this tree is special, lovingly cared for by grandfather and granddaughter together.
text copyright Roxanne Troup 2023, illustration copyright Kendra Binney 2023, Yeehoo Press
Links To Resources: The back matter of the book contains information about pecan trees and a glossary. Wonderful activities available for download from the author’s website. Coloring Page
text copyright Roxanne Troup 2023, illustration copyright Kendra Binney 2023, Yeehoo Press
Why I Like This Book: This is such a beautiful book. The story is tender and sweet, told in lyrical prose. The art is warm and soft – a perfect and lovely complement to the story. Young readers will learn quite a bit about growing pecan trees – very interesting! – but it is the underlying relationship between grandfather and granddaughter that will bring them back to this story again and again. Most of the trees are cared for as the income crop they are, but never the granddaughter’s tree. Grandpa tests the soil near the tree and feeds it by hand. He shows his granddaughter how to check each leaf and husk. At harvest time, the other trees are shaken by tractor, but the pecans are collected, cleaned and sorted by hand from this special tree. The depth of love is clear. And [SPOILER ALERT!!!] the last page will make moms and dads tear up when a new tree is planted beside the granddaughter’s for her new sibling.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Happy Passover and Happy Easter! 🌸🌺🌷💐🌼
Susanna Leonard Hill 
This sounds like a beautiful story. I’ve got my tissues ready! And that is such a fun/unique giveaway prize! Thank you for the opportunity, Roxanne, and thank you, Susanna, for sharing this interview with us!
This is such a lovely book, Bri! Don’t miss it!
Susanna, I love the softness of the illustrations, the pecan growing facts, and I adore the special grandfather/granddaughter relationship! What a precious book.
Aren’t the illustrations just gorgeous, Maria? I love art like this, and it matches the story so perfectly!
What a sweet story, I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for sharing, Roxanne and Susanna!
It’s a wonderful book, Andi. It somehow manages to be interesting and educational and also so sweet at the same time!
This book sounds perfect on so many levels. Can’t wait to add this to my library of favorites. My students will love this and it will be a great mentor text for the next story I am putting together. I learn so much, every time I am on your blog Susanna! Thank you Roxanne and Susanna for your wonderful wisdom.
This looks so beautiful. Title, illos, words, theme – it really does seem like a perfect pb. Congratulations, and thank you so much for sharing.❤️🌳👴🏼
Ah this story sounds so heart warming. I love it. I would love to with a Q & A for my PB critique crew!
So tender. Everything about this book feels well-tended to, like the trees. What a beautiful, heart-filled story! Please don’t enter me for the critique. I’d rather see Roxanne spend time with students!
This looks like a gorgeous book! And such a nice offer to do a Q&A with a critique group!!
Sound like a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful story and pictures. Being a grandmother and taking my grandson in nature I am happy to see this kind of book!
This is a beautiful book in every way…from the sweet story to the soft illustrations! I can’t wait to read it!
This looks like a great family story ! I love that it also has “backmatter! Thanks for another great post!
Such a lovely book, Susanna. And how perfect that Roxanne combined nature with the intergenerational theme. Plus, I love her idea of a giveaway…I never thought of offering a Zoom chat to a critique group…Roxanne…I hope I may borrow that wonderful idea for future giveaways of my own.
I had the same reaction, Vivian – such a great idea! I’d like to borrow it, too!
Congratulations, Rozanne! I am looking forward to reading this beautiful book. My grandfather also planted a tree for me (not sure he did it the day I was born, but he planted it when I was an infant, and he always called it “Sarah’s tree”), so I know this one will be en emotional read for me. Thanks for the post, Susanna!
*Roxanne (please forgive my clumsy fingers!)
Planting a tree as a tribute to, or in remembrance of, someone has been a ‘thing’ in our family for years, so I love this story idea. The amount of information about pecan trees, specifically, gives it a fascinating extra layer that both kids and adults will find interesting. Congrats, Roxanne, on a lovely book!
How lovely – thank you for sharing this one.
This book sounds so special. I can’t wait to read it.
I keep seeing this book around and I am so excited to read it! Congrats!! This book sounds lovely!
The bond between grandparents and children is one I didn’t get to experience but wow is it beautiful to witness. Thank you Roxanne for creating this PB and Susanna for spreading the word.
A beautiful book, indeed, with so much emotion, bathed in love.