HIP-HIP HOORAY! SAVE THE TREES RELEASES ON APRIL 11, 2024! 

My new picture book, Save the Trees, illustrated by Lintang Pandu Pratiwi is a fictional story, but it is based on my partner, Michael’s, and my experience with invasive plants and vines. Michael and I purchased a small farm in Virginia. We have over 25 species of trees on our farm from Oaks, Magnolia, Crape Myrtle, White Oak, Sassafras, Elm, Red Maple, and many more. About a year after we purchased the farm, we noticed some of our trees and plant life were being overrun and choked by invasive plants and vines. 

We conducted extensive online research on invasive plants and contacted the local agricultural office in our town to verify what we already knew. Our solution was quite simple: pick, pull, and pluck the invasive plant life and vines from our trees and plants. The solution seemed simple, but it’s actually a lot of work. Some of the plant life was extremely thick around the tree trunks, so we had to use a saw to cut through the vines. We are talking 8-inch, thick vines. Every year, we have to walk our property to ensure that we get rid of invasive plants and vines. 

If you drive by our farm, you may see us out in our field, getting rid of invasive plants. Last year, we planted over 200 trees on our property. The year before that we planted over 100 trees. So, nature is a big part of our lives.

This story will help educate kids and adults about the problem of invasive plant species and their impact on native plants and trees. Teachers can use this book as a starting point for studying invasive plants, or hands-on activities like tree planting, gardening, or organizing a community project to combat invasive species. It’s important to instill a sense of environmental stewardship by encouraging kids and adults to take action to protect and preserve trees in their communities. 

What inspires you about nature? 

BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNERS:    Bri Bolden from Texas
Mary Shipko from Virginia
Adele Gardner from Virginia

If you’d like to enter a monthly giveaway, subscribe to leslieevatayloe.com/newsletter and win authors’ books! 

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY WINNERS:
Bryanna Minick from Canada
Crystal Gries from Wisconsin