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Unearth the true story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens.Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she'd live in a place without trees. After all, Kate grew up among the towering pines and redwoods of Northern California. But after becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she took a job as a teacher far south in the dry desert town of San Diego. Where there were almost no trees. Kate decided that San Diego needed trees more than anything else. So this trailblazing young woman singlehandedly started a massive movement that transformed the town into the green, garden-filled oasis it is today. Now, more than 100 years after Kate first arrived in San Diego, her gorgeous gardens and parks can be found all over the city. Part fascinating biography, part inspirational story, this moving picture book about following your dreams, using your talents, and staying strong in the face of adversity is sure to resonate with readers young and old.



About the Author

Jill McElmurry

The first books I remember loving are "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson and "Animal Fair" by Alice and Martin Provensen. I also loved "Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson and "What Do You Say, Dear? " by Sesyle Joslin and Maurice Sendak. Later on I loved "Homer Price and the Donut Machine", "Alice in Wonderland", "Grimm's Fairy Tales", and one about bread dough that keeps rising and rising, I wish I could remember the name of it.I've lived in big towns and small towns, in mountains and valleys, beside the ocean and across the ocean, and now I live in Taos, New Mexico in a house with big windows that look out on mountains and sagebrush. My husband, our dog, Harry, and I take a lot of long walks in the desert.We spend the Summer in a tiny cabin on a tiny island in a big lake in northern Minnesota. We've named the island Good Dog Island in honor of all the good dogs we've known.Find out more at jillmcelmurry.com



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