Cirles of Hope [Hardcover]

Williams (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Young Facile wants to plant a tree in honor of his new baby sister, but he faces many obstacles. The first seed he plants is eaten by a goat, the second seed is washed away in a storm, and another seed is burnt by a scrub fire. Will Facile ever be able to plant a tree that will grow strong for baby Lucía?

In this story of determination, faith, and love, author Karen Lynn Williams introduces readers to the realities of rural life in the mountains of Haiti. Imbued with brilliant colors, expressive characters, and vivid landscapes, Linda Saport’s illustrations capture the indomitable spirit of hope.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–When his sister is born, Facile wants to find just the right gift for her. Recalling how his father planted a mango tree for him, he decides to carry on the tradition and, after several fruitless attempts, seeks advice from villagers on how to "plant a tree that will grow strong." When his sister becomes ill, Mama takes her to the doctor in the city; while waiting for them to return, Facile plants his mango seed in a protective circle of stones and joyfully watches the tree begin to grow. At last, after many months, Mama comes back up the mountain, and Facile proudly shows his "gift of hope" to his little sister. As the children grow up, more trees are planted in "circles of hope" throughout their Haitian home. This heartfelt story is supplemented by a glossary of Creole words and an author's note explaining the Haitian custom of planting a fruit tree at the birth of a child. The vibrant charcoal-and-pastel full-spread illustrations are rich with color and add an exotic, dreamlike quality to the story. This hopeful tale of family unity can be paired with Karen Lynn Williams's Painted Dreams (HarperCollins, 1998), another portrayal of island life seen through the eyes of a resourceful child.–Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-K. An elemental story gets a new setting in this quiet, heartfelt picture book about a child who plants a seed and watches it grow. Facile, a boy in Haiti, struggles to grow a tree on the bare mountainside as a gift for his new baby sister, Lucia. The first sprout is eaten by a goat; the second is washed away by a rainstorm; then a scrub fire kills his tiny tree. The baby gets sick, and Mama takes her far away to a hospital. While they are gone, Facile builds a circle of stone to protect the sprout as it grows strong--a "gift of hope," which is ready when Lucia finally comes home. Williams draws on her work in Haiti to tell the details of hardship, and Saport's simple, beautiful charcoal-and-pastel double-page spreads show first the solitary child against the red-brown mountain and later the white stones surrounding glorious green foliage. The realistic personal triumph brings home the conservation message. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books For Young Readers (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802852769
• ISBN-13: 978-0802852762
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #890,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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