H. Joseph Hopkins

This is the biography of Katherine Olivia Sessions. From a young girl, Kate knew she wanted to study science and learn about trees. She was the first women to graduate with a science degree from the University of California in 1881. From there she moved from Northern California to San Diego. Surprised at how little trees there were in San Diego, Kate quite her job as a teacher to become a gardener. She wrote to other gardeners all over the world to collect seeds that could grow in San Diego. Eventually everyone was buying her trees and planting them in their yards. When the Panama- California Exposition was coming to San Diego, Kate knew that Balboa Park needed to be filled with more trees to provide the visitors with shade and make the park beautiful. She gathered volunteers to plant thousands of trees before the fair. Because of this Kate Sessions is known as the Mother of Balboa Park. This is a great biography picture book for all ages. The story is engaging, and the pictures are vibrant and beautiful.… (mere)