Pemba and the Little Green Tree
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The old but wise and kind grandfather explains, “It is so, Pemba. More and more people have cut more and more trees, and the forest has been pushed back up the mountain. In the old days, I could find firewood in just a couple hours. Now it takes all day. We must go farther and farther up the mountain to find trees. How will we heat our food and tea if we do not have firewood?” He looks up the mountain. The man shows Pemba and his grandfather where he is planting tiny green trees all over the hillside. Taking a small sapling from his tray, the man gives it to Pemba. “This little green tree is like a sponge. As long as it is on the slope of these mountains, the ground is protected. When it rains, the tree absorbs the water and lets it go slowly. And the roots keep the soil in place. But when the tree is gone, the hills are bare. The monsoon rains make the ground loose, and then the soil goes down into the valley.” “This is our greatest fear,” Grandfather says to the man who looks after the forests.
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About the Book
Pemba and the Little Green Tree is a touching story of boy who learns the importance of taking care of the environment where he lives. The story takes place in Nepal along the steep mountain slopes. After years of cutting trees for firewood, his home is in great danger when monsoon rains hit the barren hillsides and landslides destroy the villages below. As Pemba travels through the hills above his stone house, he learns from his wise grandfather what happened to cause the deadly landslides. After he meets the man who looks over the forest, Pemba beams with hope and pride, knowing he can make things better. The book’s vivid illustrations connect you with Pemba and his grandfather and bring you to the rugged Nepal hills. The story teaches a lesson on environmental stewardship and sustainability. It is a lesson a young person can apply to the many environmental challenges facing humankind in today’s world.
About the Author
Shirley Starr lived in Portland, Oregon with her two children Jeff and Jennifer and husband Gary. Shirley enjoyed raising her children and writing children stories. She wrote this story in 1991 after being inspired by a documentary on deforestation in Nepal. Shirley died of cancer in 1998 at the age of 45. She earned her Master’s in English from the University of Oregon. In 2017, Jacinda Jacoby brought the book to life with her beautiful illustrations. Jacinda lives with her husband and children in the hills of McMinnville, Oregon. She is mainly a self-taught artist who loves the challenge of using a variety of mediums and fearlessly trying new things. You can see more of her work @jacinda.jacoby on Instagram.