Friday, May 19, 2023

The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed and LeUyen Pham - ESSENTIAL

The Together Tree
by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
. PICTURE BOOK Simon Schuster. 2023. $19. 9781534462960 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Rumi has just moved from his old home and school. Rumi sits under a big willow tree, twirling a stick, by himself while the other students are playing. When Rumi hears a laugh, he turns to look where Asher and Ella are laughing and bullying him.  Han doesn’t say anything even though he is unhappy about what is happening. More days go by with Rumi being bullied until one day, Rumi is hurt when a rock is thrown at him. Han asks Rumi if he could play with him and sees what Rumi has been doing under the big willow tree all of this time. More kids come to join Rumi under the tree, but not Asher.

Pham’s illustrations in this heartbreaking but timely story are so realistic and colorful. The young reader will feel as if he/she is in the story with Rumi and the others. The text brings tears to the eyes of the reader as one feels deeply for Rumi as he is bullied and excluded because he is the new boy. A lesson is to be learned from this wonderful book, teaching tolerance and acceptance. The Author’s Note at the end of the book is a note that MUST be read by all reading The Together Tree. A must-have for preschool through elementary school.

The characters are multicultural. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

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