Sally Baxter Saves The Trees

Help Sally Save The Trees

Sally Baxter Saves the Trees is a story about a child’s struggle to understand why nature is sacrificed and destroyed in the name of commerce and modernization. Sally refuses to accept that “this is just how the world works”. She embarks on a crusade, fighting the powers that be in order to save her town’s beautiful trees which are in danger of being chopped down by the gears of progress.

Meet Sally

Sign the petition to save the trees on School St.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-removal-of-trees-on-school-street-ukiah?utm_campaign=d6fb68747b9f4c16a3453626b1fa84ee&utm_content=sunrise_v1_0_1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petition_update&utm_term=cs&fbclid=IwVERDUARPbBBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEez7AvoSZj_MYv79TXEX1Jsucpmu_qHumcxPy9nDLoox_YfsEUsn9fJUi-gnc_aem_jeSQT3CCowjLIGzEQ2V1dg 
“Why would they cut them down?” Sally said frustrated and angrily as she sat back down on the bench.
     “Well Sally, sometimes they have to cut down trees when they are causing problems. We cut down trees to make freeways and sometimes when we build our houses. The animals move to different trees. Sometimes we pave over nature so we can drive our cars and live.” Sally didn’t like that answer from her grandpa. She felt sad that someone would chop down her favorite trees for no good reason at all. She remembered what her grandpa had always told her. “If you see something wrong then speak up!” “No,” she said. “It’s wrong and I’m speaking up! “

About the author

Jared is a Humboldt State University Graduate who grew up amongst the Northern California Redwoods and the Pacific Ocean. Nature has always been a source of inspiration and wonder for him acting as a backdrop to his creative expression.

Meet the Author

About the Illustrator

Victoria is an artist, illustrator and Mendocino College student who grew up……..

Meet the Illustrator

Original sketches of the characters brought to life by Victoria Burbridge

Townsfolk
Sally’s Grandpa
Sally’s Grandpa teaching her about nature
Sally Baxter
Sally eating ice cream and being precocious
The many moods of Sally
The mean man with the cane
A close-up, photographic shot of a handmade cardboard protest sign leaning against the base of a massive, deeply textured tree trunk. The sign, painted in cheerful, uneven green and blue letters reading “SAVE THE TREES,” rests on a patch of vibrant moss and tiny white wildflowers, with scattered colored markers lying nearby on the soft soil. Dappled afternoon sunlight filters through dense leaves above, creating playful patterns of light and shadow across the sign and bark. Shot from a low angle with shallow depth of field, the background forest dissolves into a soft, dreamy blur, producing a warm, hopeful atmosphere that blends childlike creativity with a strong environmental message.
An inviting, whimsical woodland reading nook built around the base of a huge, gnarled oak tree, captured in photographic realism. A circle of well-loved, colorful children’s books about nature lies open on a thick, circular rug of fallen leaves and soft moss. Nearby, a small wooden crate serves as a low table holding a chipped ceramic mug of hot cocoa, rising steam visible in cool morning light. String lights are gently woven through lower branches, unlit in the soft, diffused daylight that filters through the canopy. Shot at eye level with a gentle vignette and moderate depth of field, the scene feels playful, cozy, and magical, inviting young readers into Sally Baxter’s world.
An overhead, photographic view of a large, hand-drawn map of an imaginary town spread across a rustic wooden table, showing tree-filled parks, meandering rivers, and small clusters of eco-friendly buildings. The map is illustrated in bright, marker-like colors with bold green forests and tiny, detailed icons of birds, squirrels, and butterflies. Around the edges sit colored pencils, leaf samples, and a magnifying glass catching a glint of warm desk lamp light. Soft, focused lighting from the lamp creates gentle shadows and highlights the paper’s slight texture. The composition is centered and tidy, with sharp focus on the map and a softly blurred background, capturing a playful, optimistic atmosphere of reimagining progress in harmony with nature.