My Olive Tree

Gr 1-3–With firm restraint, Gaza-born Elbayya tells a tale of resilience. Having learned from her sido, or grandfather, the many roles olives play in the lives of her neighbors, young Salam plants a seed, dotes on the little seedling that appears—and is devastated when soldiers march over the field, trampling everything into the dirt. That night, the townfolk gather quietly, and the next morning Salam returns to discover with delight that the whole area has been replanted with young trees. “Just like the olive trees, we are part of this land,” her grandfather says. “And just like the olive trees, when they try to break us, we grow back stronger.” In a style as simple as the language of the narrative, the fine-lined illustrations, mostly done in appropriate pale browns and dark greens, depict a wide-eyed, expressively posed child and a community of adults who stand together while being individualized in skin color, dress, and facial features. In an afterword, the author writes about deep roots and urges readers to plant trees for peace—and for future generations to enjoy.