The Forest Keeper– The true story of Jadav Payeng

This story can be used in many different classroom discussions. Perseverance, geography, and autobiographical to name a few. I enjoyed this story so much and even loved the ending where more info about Jadav is given. The illustration are absolutely stunning. I think classrooms could use this for very meaningful conversations.

We love nonfiction books here in our home and this one is nothing short of a treasure!

In this story, Jadav first became concerned when hundreds of water snakes washed ashore where they shriveled and died in the hot sun.

After this unsettling experience, he went first to the elders of his tribe then to the forest department where he was told “Go plant them yourself!”.

So he did. And he never stopped.

Each day 16-year old Jadav planted, watered and tended to his trees.

Jadav’s pride can be felt through the text as we’re told he saw and felt his forest come alive when the birds came and the many animals like tigers, rhinos, wild boar and rabbits wandered his forest.

The forest he grew from a single bag of bamboo seedlings is now the size of Central Park in New York City!

This book is an inspirational spark for children to go out and solve world issues..to be young change makers. Immediately after reading my daughter wanted to discuss ways we can not only help the environment, but help with other issues, beginning with our community. That's priceless to me!

We cannot wait to add a physical copy to our home library!

Thank you Rina Singh for taking the time to research and mastermind this beautiful story! Thank you to NorthSouth Books for this Advance Read Copy!