Circles of Hope, written by Karen Lynn Williams and illustrated by Linda Saport, Eerdmans Books, 2005.
It is not easy to find children's books with an appealing and compellingly timely story. This story is both beautiful and powerful. Children reading or listening to the narrative would learn about the plights of other children in Haiti, and their struggle to cope with unique challenges. After the January 12, 2010 earthquake these challenges have only grown worse, but, as this book tries to show, there is still hope.
The story is about a boy named Facile whose father has taught him the value of trees. He had planted a mango tree in honor of Facile’s birth, and this tree was now generously giving away fruits, shade, and preventing landslides. The father, however, had to leave to find work.
After the birth of his sister Lucia the boy decides to plant his own tree as a gift for her. But without his father around the task becomes really difficult. In fact, three times Facile attempted planting a mango tree without success. The first twig was eaten by a rambling goat. The second was swept away by rains. And the third was scorched by scrub fires.
After each failed attempt Facile asked a grown family member, “How can I plant a tree that would grow strong?” Every time he asked he received an answer that revealed the local Haitian techniques and means to handle the challenge of reforestation. Indeed, deforestation is a conspicuous yet subtle issue throughout the book, illuminating in this way the current environmental crisis in Haiti.
Close to the end, the boy learns from his uncle that he needed éspéré (hope) to make the tree grow. Facile himself also had the brilliant idea of using the many ubiquitous stones to build protective walls around the sprouting seed. Lucia’s tree finally began to grow tall and strong.
It is not easy to find children's books with an appealing and compellingly timely story. This story is both beautiful and powerful. Children reading or listening to the narrative would learn about the plights of other children in Haiti, and their struggle to cope with unique challenges. After the January 12, 2010 earthquake these challenges have only grown worse, but, as this book tries to show, there is still hope.
The story is about a boy named Facile whose father has taught him the value of trees. He had planted a mango tree in honor of Facile’s birth, and this tree was now generously giving away fruits, shade, and preventing landslides. The father, however, had to leave to find work.
After the birth of his sister Lucia the boy decides to plant his own tree as a gift for her. But without his father around the task becomes really difficult. In fact, three times Facile attempted planting a mango tree without success. The first twig was eaten by a rambling goat. The second was swept away by rains. And the third was scorched by scrub fires.
After each failed attempt Facile asked a grown family member, “How can I plant a tree that would grow strong?” Every time he asked he received an answer that revealed the local Haitian techniques and means to handle the challenge of reforestation. Indeed, deforestation is a conspicuous yet subtle issue throughout the book, illuminating in this way the current environmental crisis in Haiti.
Close to the end, the boy learns from his uncle that he needed éspéré (hope) to make the tree grow. Facile himself also had the brilliant idea of using the many ubiquitous stones to build protective walls around the sprouting seed. Lucia’s tree finally began to grow tall and strong.
And one day, after a long absence because of work in the city, his father arrived home. Facile’s mother, who had sought medical treatment for the baby in the city, arrived too. They were all gladly greeted by the young mango tree that Facile had planted close to the house. Soon the boy’s ingenuity spreads around the community. Other trees, enclosed and sheltered by ordinary stonewalls, began to grow on nearby mountain tops, bringing back the green look these mountains used to have.
With gorgeous illustrations that resemble kids’ drawings, the narrative delicately touches on some of the current Haitian troubles. The abounding dust due to the scarcity of trees, the impact of showers on rootless soil, and the prevalent practice of scrub fires are some of them. The book also deftly considers the labor conundrum and the want of medical care that many households confront in rural sections of the country.
The happy ending with trees budding around mountaintops is not the only positive concept in the story. Facile’s evident resourcefulness and persistence in the face of constant disappointments are simply inspiring. The way in which the boy draws strength and ideas from family members also shows how the extended Haitian family plays such an important role in raising kids. But most importantly, the story reveals how the Haitian people possess the know-how to solve their own problems independently from foreign interference.
With gorgeous illustrations that resemble kids’ drawings, the narrative delicately touches on some of the current Haitian troubles. The abounding dust due to the scarcity of trees, the impact of showers on rootless soil, and the prevalent practice of scrub fires are some of them. The book also deftly considers the labor conundrum and the want of medical care that many households confront in rural sections of the country.
The happy ending with trees budding around mountaintops is not the only positive concept in the story. Facile’s evident resourcefulness and persistence in the face of constant disappointments are simply inspiring. The way in which the boy draws strength and ideas from family members also shows how the extended Haitian family plays such an important role in raising kids. But most importantly, the story reveals how the Haitian people possess the know-how to solve their own problems independently from foreign interference.
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