Luna & Me: The True Story of a Girl Who Lived in a Tree
By Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
The Story
A girl called Butterfly discovers a thousand-year-old redwood marked with a blue X for cutting down, so she climbs up and refuses to leave — living in the tree until its future is safe.
Why It's Special
For the kid who already begs to hug every tree on the trail, this is proof that one person, even a young one, can stand between something ancient and a chainsaw.
- Big idea: Standing your ground for something you love can mean literally not coming down — commitment as a form of protest.
- Vibes: Quiet, determined, rooted in real events, with the hush and scale of an old-growth forest.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy true stories about real people
- are working on standing up for what they believe in
- love trees, forests, and the outdoors
- respond well to quiet, thoughtful stories rather than fast-paced action
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: Why did Butterfly decide that climbing into Luna and staying there would keep the tree from being cut down?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Butterfly felt the first time she saw the big blue X painted on Luna?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you wanted to do whatever it took to protect it?
- Imagination: What do you think it would be like to live inside a giant tree like Luna?
- Big ideas: Why do you think it mattered so much to Butterfly to save just one tree?