The Forest Keeper

By Rina Singh, Ishita Jain (Illustrator)

A boy plants trees on a sandbank, creating a miraculous forest.

4.4/5 Goodreads · 166 ratings

40 pages

$18.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In Assam, young Jadav Payeng defies doubt by planting trees on a barren sandbank. Over decades, his dedication transforms it into a thriving forest, home to diverse wildlife. When a photographer stumbles upon this hidden paradise, Jadav's incredible achievement is revealed to the world. Can one person's vision truly change the environment? Discover the miraculous journey of a boy who proved it possible.

From the publisher

Trees don’t grow on sandbars . . . but a boy from India grew a forest. What can one person do in the face of global environmental degradation? Indian Jadav Payeng has proven that each and every one of us can make a difference. As a boy, he began planting trees on a sandbank in the state of Assam. Nobody believed that he would succeed in doing so. But since 1979, a forest the size of Central Park has emerged, offering a home to countless animals and plants. It was not until 2007 that a photographer accidentally discovered the forest and made Payeng known to the world beyond India. Rina Singh has sensitively retraced the story of young Jadav. In Ishita Jain’s picture book debut as illustrator, readers feel immersed in the spectacular habitat whose existence borders on a miracle come true.

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