My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me

by Roxanne Troup, Kendra Binney (Illustrator)

Overview

In this moving tale about the depths of love and care a grandfather and granddaughter have for one another, author Roxanne Troup and artist Kendra Binney deliver a timeless story sure to become a classic.

Of all the trees in Grandpa’s orchard, one tree is his favorite—a pecan tree, planted for his granddaughter on the day she was born.

As the seasons change and the leaves bloom and fall again, Grandpa takes tender care of each and every tree. Sometimes they need pruning, sometimes they need feeding. They all need harvesting, and the granddaughter loves to see the tractor hug the trunks and shake and shake until leaves and twigs and pecans all rain down.

But not the child’s tree—her tree is special. It is not a part of the rest of the orchard. It is for just the two of them: grandfather and granddaughter, and the ways they’ll watch this tree grow each season as they tend to the roots, care for its pecan treasures, and see what they can make together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781953458551
Publisher:	Yeehoo Press
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,058,618
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Roxanne Troup grew up along the waterways of Missouri, where everyone had a pecan tree but few grew pecans commercially. Today, she lives in the mountains of Colorado (where no one grows pecans) and writes kid's books that celebrate the wonder of childhood and beauty of family.


Kendra Binney is a fine artist and illustrator from Vancouver, WA. Her paintings have been exhibited, sold, and published around the world, but her favorite place on earth is still her own backyard. There she loves to spend time with her family and menagerie of animals; giving nicknames to visiting birds, and planting things in the dirt in hopes that they will grow.

Editorial Reviews

05/01/2023

A child’s tending a pecan tree their grandfather planted for them forms the basis of this educational tale centered on backyard vs. commercial agriculture. “Grandpa’s orchard is full of pecan trees—some older than he is. But my tree is his favorite,” says the book’s unnamed child narrator, who presents as Black. “Every winter... Grandpa prunes his orchard until each branch feels the sunlight.” She adds, “But not my tree”—a four-word refrain that echoes throughout—“My tree has lots of space to spread its branches.” Troup provides detailed descriptions of the differences between large-scale and individuated caretaking across the seasons, offering a portrait of familial, as opposed to commercial, care for the child’s sapling. The text’s quiet lyricism is reflected in Binney’s misty, soft-hued digital illustrations, which focus on the title figures and the landscape. Back matter defines farming terms and highlights the overlooked contributions of an enslaved man whose grafting technique is responsible for today’s bountiful pecan harvests. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly