Katherine Sessions was a horticulturist, a naturalist, a landscape architect, an educator, a green-thumb, a tree-lover, a pioneer, and a wonderfully inspiring person. Her most notable accomplishment, as the book details, is her creation of Balboa Park in San Diego. She is lovingly remembered as the "Mother of Balboa Park". (Now I have one more reason to get to Southern California!)
The Tree Lady gives a lovely glimpse into Kate Sessions life, but also encourages its readers to pursue their own dreams, and to be driven, courageous, and determined. I appreciate that message! My personal green-thumb dreams are not as lofty or public, but dreams nonetheless, and I love the encouragement from a children's book to be true to them. I resonate with Kate's underlying desire to make the world a more beautiful place; I have that dream too.
p.s.--Jill McElmurry's illustrations are fantastic, sort of folk art in style and reminiscent of Barbara Cooney, another fantastic children's book author/illustrator.