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The Great Kapok Tree
Written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry, this 1990 picture book dedicated to Brazilian environmentalist Chico Mendes tackles deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. A tired woodcutter dozes off while trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. As he sleeps, different creatures who live in the tree come to whisper in his ear, trying to persuade him to spare the tree. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt released a thirtieth anniversary edition for The Great Kapok Tree in 2020, underscoring the picture book’s enduring appeal and continuing relevance today. Cherry herself is an environmentalist and has remained dedicated to supporting youth involvement in environmental activism, founding the organization Young Voices for the Planet.
-NK