111 Trees

September 15, 2020
Haunted by the untimely deaths of his mother and daughter, an Indian man named Sundar grows up to become an activist dedicated to advancing gender equity and environmental justice in his home state of Rajasthan. After he gets married, Sundar works in a marble quarry owned by men who unapologetically wreak ecological havoc on the land. Disgusted by these practices, Sundar quits his job and runs for the position of head of his village, a title known as the sarpanch, and wins. His joy is short-lived: A year after his victory, his oldest daughter dies. As he mourns, he notices how little female children are valued in his village. He then hatches a plan to honor his daughter's memory, change attitudes about gender, and combat the deforestation that has been devastating the local land. Every time a girl is born in the village, Sundar decides that the people will plant 111 trees in her honor. Sundar's idea fundamentally affects his hometown in deeply positive ways. Including endnotes about Rajasthan, gender equity, and eco-feminism, this earnest, inspiring book forthrightly discusses everything from environmental exploitation to female feticide in language suitable for young readers. Although many readers will give a side-eye when Sundar tells the villagers that in developed countries "girls and boys are treated equally," overall, this is an uplifting story about the power of personal action. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.4-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 41.1% of actual size.) An inspiring picture book about eco-feminism in action in the global south. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from October 15, 2020
Grades 1-3 *Starred Review* The equation of one girl equaling 111 trees may seem like an idealistic concept, but to Sundar Paliwal, it was a commonsense solution to social and environmental problems. The notion of planting 111 trees for every baby girl born in his village came to him after a lifetime of struggle and personal tragedy, and this beautiful, poignant book tells of his path from boyhood to village head. Growing up in his Indian village, Sundar cherished time alone with his mother, even when it meant walking miles in the blistering heat to fetch water. As an adult, he taught his children to love and respect nature. And as a worker in the marble mines, he stood his ground when he witnessed the damage being done to the land. Sundar dreamt of planting trees on the ravaged land and, to honor his daughter, ordered the villagers to come around to the idea of planting trees when girls are born. Illustrated in bright, crisp earth tones and textured-leaf motifs, 111 Trees is the true story of radical ideas coming to fruition through collaboration, persistence, and gradual change, an homage to trees, girls, and a planet that is sure to return the favor when we care for it. Can be paired with Sophia Gholz's The Boy Who Grew a Forest (2019).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-Every time a girl is born in the village of Piplantri, in India's northern province of Rajasthan, they plant 111 trees. The initiative was started in 2006 by the village head, Shyam Sundar Paliwal. Singh's story, written in conjunction with Paliwal, describes his life in the village-of walking with his mother to fetch water and growing up to work in a marble mine that was harming the land. After his young daughter died, Paliwal planted trees in her honor and got the idea to plant trees for all the daughters born in the village to honor them and help the land. Back matter explains more about gender inequality, Paliwal's life, and the initiative, which also includes setting aside money for the girls to use when they turn 18. Ferrer's watercolor, gouache, and graphite illustrations show women and girls wearing brightly colored clothing (many also have headscarves) on a barren landscape that fills with green as the trees grow. VERDICT This engaging story serves as a compelling introduction to the concept of eco-feminism and will be great in classrooms for sparking larger conversations.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2020
To honor his young daughter's memory, Sundar Paliwal proposes that his Indian village plants 111 trees for each baby girl born. He hopes this act will help change the deeply held belief that "a daughter was a burden..." and counter decades of environmental damage caused by mining. Changing people's minds takes effort and time, but Sundar persists and eventually sees his dream become reality. Accompanied by Ferrer's stylized illustrations in muted earth tones, Singh's approachable text conveys how one person's passion and commitment can have tremendous impact on their community. Five pages at the end of the book discuss in more detail Sundar's mission, gender inequality, the project's "extraordinary changes," and "eco-feminism."

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)