Luna & Me: The True Story of a Girl Who Lived in a Tree to Save a Forest

Kostecki-Shaw's mixed-media artwork portrays activist Julia Butterfly Hill as a childlike figure wearing a bandana and yellow dress as she takes up residence for two years in the branches of Luna, an ancient California redwood, to save the tree from logging. The third-person narrative shifts between Butterfly's point of view ("Living 180 feet high in a tree wasn't easy. Her tree house was the size of a sandbox") and that of the tree ("Welcome, Little Butterfly. You are brave to have ventured up so high!"). A warm, appealing snapshot of this environmental activist. Ages 5-9. Agency: Worley-Shoemaker Literary Management. (May)

K-Gr 3--Kostecki-Shaw's beautifully illustrated picture book takes some liberties telling the story of Julia "Butterfly" Hill and her two-year stint tree-sitting in an ancient redwood to prevent its destruction by the Pacific Lumber Company. The tree, named Luna, is anthropomorphized through both text and images ("The redwood quivered with excitement, the way she always did when a new visitor arrived."), and Hill is depicted as a young girl (and referred to as Butterfly), although she was in her early 20s when she began her 738-day tree-sit. This may be confusing to children, but Kostecki-Shaw clarifies in an author's note that she made this choice so that the story would resonate more strongly with readers. The narrative is fascinating, with many jumping-off points for discussion with children ("And there wasn't a bathroom."; "To exercise, she climbed barefoot to the very top of Luna every morning."). The logistics are thoughtfully considered, and Kostecki-Shaw is careful to emphasize the teamwork that went into making it possible for Hill to remain in her 180-foot high platform until Luna was safe. Rendered in acrylics, watercolors, salt, pencil, and collage, the delicate, exquisitely detailed illustrations portray Hill, Luna, and the flora and fauna of the forest that take shelter in the giant redwood. The visuals are the book's strength, and readers will get a sense of the importance of protecting the environment. VERDICT There are few books for this age group that deal with local deforestation, making this charming introduction to environmentalism an ideal addition.--Jane Barrer, United Nations International School, New York City