Luna & Me - by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Social activism combines with environmentalism in this picture book bio of Julia Butterfly Hill and Luna, the thousand-year-old redwood tree whose life she saved"--

Book Synopsis

Once there was a redwood tree--one of the world's largest and tallest trees, and one of the oldest. And once, born nearly a thousand years after the tree first took root, there was a girl named Julia, who was called Butterfly.

When exploring her beloved forest, Butterfly wandered into a grove of ancient trees. One tree had broken branches and a big blue "X" on the side. It was going to be chopped down. Butterfly climbed up into the tree. A tree wouldn't be cut down if it had a person living in it. This is the story of Julia Butterfly Hill and Luna, the redwood tree she lived in for two years, never once coming down. That is, not until Luna's future was safe.

Review Quotes

A CBC NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
A Green Earth Book Award Qualifying List Selection
A Florida Reading Association's Children's Book Award Nominee
A California Eureka List Selection

"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." --School Library Journal

"A warm, appealing snapshot of this environmental activist." --Publishers Weekly

"A gentle introduction to environmental activism for the very young." --Kirkus Reviews

"There is considerable usage potential here, from art projects to classroom community projects to diversity awareness projects. . . . There's also plenty of pleasure to be found just in sharing the thoughtful story and perusing the artwork." --BCCB on Same, Same But Different

"Young readers will close the book longing to have a friend from another place; for schools with global partnerships, this will be a go-to book for introducing these projects to classrooms." --The Horn Book Magazine on Same, Same But Different

"The imaginative multimedia illustrations, drawn in an animated, childlike style, add vibrant color and rich details to the story. Kostecki-Shaw presents a meaningful message of inclusivity in this engaging title." --School Library Journal on Same, Same But Different

"Working in exuberantly detailed spreads with a playful sense of proportion and perspective, she [Kostecki-Shaw] immerses readers in her heroes' worlds, showing them as confident navigators of even the busiest landscapes. On every page, readers will sense they're in the company of a generous, open-minded talent." --Publishers Weekly on Same, Same But Different

About the Author

Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw is the author and illustrator of My Travelin' Eye and Same, Same But Different, for which she won the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award and the South Asia Book Award. A freelance illustrator who studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and the Illustration Academy, Jenny lives in the mountains of Northern New Mexico with her family.