NELL PLANTS A TREE by Anne Wynter

Review by Kelly Carey
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The beautiful possibilities that can grow from a planted seed are lyrically told in Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares (Balzer & Bray, January 2023). Children at a country house enjoy climbing branches, discovering hatching birds, and racing to tag the tree’s trunk. Interspersed through the playfulness are single line reminders that for the tree to exist, Nell needed to plant and nurture its growth. Gorgeous illustrations swathed in warm color move the reader from heartwarming interactions with the full-grown tree to Nell planting, watering, and caring for the tiny seed.  Nell’s devotion to the tree and her family make this book a celebration of love and traditions shared across generations. Nell Plants a Tree shares the satisfying and peaceful recollections of a family experiencing the simple pleasures of life together. 

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On Writing
Flashbacks in a picture book. How could that possibly work? And yet Wynter masterfully proves that using a repetitive structure and two distinct writing styles can open the opportunity to tell a story that travels happily and effectively from present to past and back again. Wynter uses the word before as a marker to separate the present and past. When she takes readers to the past, the longer lyrical structure of the present voice gives way to single, sparse and straightforward sentences. For example, in the past, “Nell picks up a seed”, is set against the present, “Before a hush and a point at a nest filled with eggs”.  The result is a beautiful delineation of time. If your picture book requires a long span of time, it may be helpful to explore Wynter’s flashback method.

In addition to flashbacks, Wynter also employs cadence and rhythm. She does this so successfully that you’ll want to tap your foot along to the lyrical passages. You’ll have to read some pages twice, sure that there must be a rhyme. But instead, you’ll find an artistry in Wynter’s choice and placement of words. Each accented syllable hits at exactly the right place. That in and of itself is impressive, but Wynter not only picks the right sounding word for your ear, but she also finds the words that conjure memories that will tug at your heart. The combination is brilliant. If you are thinking rhyme but unsure, perhaps lean into rhythm instead and use Wynter’s writing as a seed to sprout your own creative masterpiece.

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To learn more about author Ann Wynter visit her here. 
To learn more about illustrator Daniel Miyares visit him here. 
To purchase a copy of  Nell Plants a Tree visit here.