My Olive Tree by Hazar Elbayya
I love that this author illustrator traditionally published book shows the ways that olive trees and their fruit connect people. The little girl, Salam, can’t wait to grow her very own tree, but it takes a while, and when it finally sprouts, it is trampled by soldiers. Heartbroken to lose her plant, her community shows her how they are like their beloved olive trees: their roots are deep, and they are a part of the land. The tender illustrations, the poignant symbolism, and the love and unity that radiates through, makes this book an important read for children and adults of all ages and backgrounds. There are no countries mentioned in the text (Palestine appears only in the author’s note), nor any religion, there are visible Muslims in the illustrations, even the soldiers are unnamed, but the setting is clear. Picture books take years to be published and that it released at this point in history, shows how long the struggle for freedom has been taking place, and how strong and resilient Palestinians are. This book that will be read over and over, shows even in the sadness, the feeling of hope abounds.
The book starts with Salam noting how old her grandpa is, and that only the olive trees are older than Sido. Sido then explains to his granddaughter how the olive trees connect them all: farmed, picked, pressed, oil used to cook, olives sold to eat, added to dishes, and made into soap. Salam goes to plant her seed and be part of the connection. She waters it and waits, but it doesn’t seem to be growing.
Finally a spout, and then a little plant, and then the soldiers march into their lands and destroy everything in their path, even Salam’s olive tree. Sido reassures her that she will plant more olive trees in her lifetime, but Sido also wants to show her that she is not alone. Friends, family, and neighbors, come together to show her, “just like the olive trees, when they try to break us, we grow back stronger.”
A truly beautiful hopeful book, subhanAllah.
