Ordinarily I don’t celebrate a picture book converting from hard cover to paperback, but this was an incredible book I somehow missed the first time around and had to share about it!
Rina Singh is an award-winning children’s book author whose storytelling reflects her deep curiosity about the world. Her books often draw on real-life stories of resilience, social justice, and the environment, inspiring young readers to dream big and act boldly. Translated into multiple languages, her books have received starred reviews in Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist. Her books are included on the Bank Street and NYPL Best Books lists. Grandmother School won the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize, while 111 Trees received the Social Justice Literature Award and was featured in the New York Times. She lives in a blue house in Toronto. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or BlueSky.
THE FOREST KEEPER: THE TRUE STORY OF JADAV PAYENG is a nonfiction picture book that blew my mind. I couldn’t believe this was a real story, but it is! There is a place in India, an island in Assam, where a huge river would flood every year. All vegetation was swept away in floods, leaving a lifeless sandbar, and this impacted all who lived there, humans, plants, and animals. Until one person decided to change that. Jadav Payeng was only 16 years old when he made a decision to change this. He planted the only seeds he had and he tended them, year after year. It became his life’s mission and eventually a forest grew and animals returned. This is a place you can visit today and Jadav is still alive. The difference one person can make even in small amounts of time is phenomenal.
Welcome Rina!
Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? When did you start writing picture books? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?
Rina: I began my writing journey with poetry—it has always been my first love and the way I make sense of the world. When I became a mother and later a teacher to young children, I gravitated toward picture books. And then came the moment that changed everything: I read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It opened my eyes to the power of this genre. Picture books, I realized, are the most fascinating form of writing—they hold space for poetry, surprise, and wonder, and they can carry wisdom without being preachy. They invite children to dream. That’s what has kept me rooted in picture books all these years, and it’s what has brought me to this story today.
Me: I love this story of a young boy who tries to do the impossible and save the land and animals he loves (despite others nay saying). What was it about Jadav Payeng’s amazing story that first grabbed you and made you want to write about it?
Rina: When I first heard about Jadav Payeng, what struck me most was how his vision grew over time. As a boy, he simply began planting trees on a barren sandbar. Only later did he see what those small, daily acts could achieve. That quiet, unwavering perseverance moved me.
What really grabbed me, though, was how his story holds a mirror to something universal: the idea that one person’s determination can transform not just a landscape but an entire community. I loved how it defied the notion that problems like deforestation or climate change are too big for individuals to tackle.
Me: Can you talk about your research for this story? What did that process look like? Did you have to do a lot of research?
Rina: After watching a short National Geographic documentary about Jadav Payeng, I knew I had to learn more. Researching his story wasn’t simple—he spoke Assamese, while I speak Hindi—so I reached out to people who had worked with him, including the wildlife photographer who first brought his work to light. Their insights, along with the articles and studies I read, helped me understand how one man, tree by tree, created a forest that now shelters elephants, tigers, and countless birds. What struck me most was that this wasn’t just about planting trees—it was about patience, love for the land, and the belief that nature and humans can thrive together.
Me: I had never heard of Jadav before, but you mention in your back matter that there had already been a lot of things written and films made about him. Did that make it hard for you to find fresh ground to cover? Why did you want to share his story with younger readers in a picture book?
Rina: I hadn’t heard of Jadav until I watched the National Geographic documentary about him. That 18-minute film moved me so much that I began researching his story further, and I discovered there had also been articles and videos made in the Assamese language. But none of that was for children. What drew me in was the chance to share his story in a way that younger readers could access—through the tenderness and lyricism of a picture book. His journey carries a powerful message about persistence and hope, and I wanted children to see that even the smallest daily acts can grow into something extraordinary.
Me: The illustrations by Ishita Jain are so lovely! What an incredible color palette for a story like this! Any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?
Rina: I had been following Ishita on Instagram and was already captivated by her greens—I knew she’d bring the forest to life in a way that felt lush and authentic. Still, the finished art took my breath away. She balances greens and blues with sudden bursts of red fire and sunsets, while earthy browns and dignified greys ground the forest in India. What moved me most was how she captured both the grandeur and the quiet depth of Jadav’s journey—from sweeping landscapes to tender moments, like planting a bamboo seedling on a sandbar surrounded by the turquoise Brahmaputra. The artwork hums with energy and feels alive. I had hoped the art would complement the text, but Ishita gave the story its heartbeat.
Me: Your bio says you are drawn to real-life stories of resilience, social justice, and the environment. If you could spend your whole life saving only one place in the world and reviving its flora and fauna like Jadav, where would it be and why?
Rina: If I could devote my life to saving one place, it would be the forests of India where elephants still roam. These gentle, intelligent beings—symbols of memory and strength—are under constant threat as their habitats disappear. Elephants are keystone species: they shape landscapes, dig waterholes, spread seeds, and ensure biodiversity. Protecting them means protecting entire ecosystems. Jadav Payeng’s story in The Forest Keeper reminds me that one person can make a monumental difference. Restoring safe corridors for elephants would safeguard not only a species but a living legacy of balance between humans and nature.
Me: I love that. You are an award-winning writer who has had books translated into multiple languages around the world and been on best-selling lists. Any advice for new picture book writers?
Rina: My biggest piece of advice is to never stop reading picture books. Read widely, read deeply, and pay attention to what makes each one work. That’s how we keep refining our craft. I’ve written many books, yet every time I start a new one, I feel like I’m beginning all over again—with the same messy first drafts, the same doubts. Writing never becomes effortless, but that’s also what keeps it alive and challenging.
From a personal perspective, I believe persistence is the most important quality a writer can cultivate. Stories rarely come out fully formed—they need patience, revision, and a willingness to keep showing up even when the process feels hard. And finally, keep the child in you alive. Stay curious. Let yourself be in awe of the world around you. That sense of wonder is what children respond to most, and it’s what gives picture books their magic.
That is excellent advice. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today Rina.
Dear readers, this book originally published in 2023, but it is being released in paperback this very day. If you, like me, missed this book the first time around, here is your chance to catch it again. Not only is it a fantastic story with gorgeous illustrations. It’s also a mind-blowing story with the possibility of changing the world. What small thing could you do every single day that would build up over time in such an incredible way? Just imagine. Trust me when I say, this is a book you won’t want to miss!