The Together Tree
by Aisha Saeed (Author) Leuyen Pham (Illustrator)
All Are Welcome meets Be Kind in this poignant and accessible picture book about the power every bystander--no matter how small--has to extend kindness and stand up in the face of intolerance.
At his new school, quiet Rumi feels small and unwelcome, and a few kids bully him for his brown skin and bright shoes. He finds refuge beneath the old willow tree by the playground and builds his own world of hope and dreams of belonging.
One day, when Rumi is made a target again, one of his classmates bravely steps in to defend him. It's in that moment of solidarity Rumi's class finally realizes that under the shade of the willow tree, all are welcome, and they create a space they can all play in--together.
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When Rumi moves across the country, his new teacher's request that the class make him "feel at home" goes unheeded. During recess, most of the students, shown as racially diverse, ignore Rumi, who's portrayed with brown skin and black hair. White-presenting Asher insults him ("His shoes are ugly"), and another light-skinned student laughs. East Asian-presenting Han "didn't think it was funny," but says nothing. Over the next few days, Asher continues to harass Rumi, who sits alone, "twirling a twig beneath the shady old willow tree," portrayed by Pham (Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn) in layered scenes as a majestic bower of delicate green leaves. The escalating situation peaks with a stone thrown at Rumi, an event that pushes Han to act, precipitating a discovery about the new classmate and offering the kids a way forward. Han's action is the fulcrum in this compassionate tale about turning bystanders into upstanders, and the move to offer solace to Rumi rather than to confront Asher offers readers another way to intervene when there is conflict. An author's note discusses the personal seeds of this story by Saeed (Amal Unbound). Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Taylor Martindale Kean, Full Circle Literary. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (May)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Huda Al-Marashi is the author of the bestselling memoir First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story. Her other writing has appeared in various anthologies and news outlets, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, and al Jazeera. She is currently a fellow with the Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers Program, and Grounded is her first novel for young readers. She lives in San Diego with her family.
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a Philadelphia-based bestselling children's book author. Her books, which center around Black and Muslim kids, have been recognized by many, including TIME and NPR, and she is an Irma Black Award silver medalist. A former teacher and forever an educator-at-heart, she is probably most proud that her picture book Your Name Is a Song was named the December 2021 NEA Read Across America book and that it is included in the curriculums of major school districts throughout the United States.
S. K. Ali is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including the Morris Award finalist Saints and Misfits and Love from A to Z, both named as a top 10 YA title of the year by various media, including Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. Her novel Misfit in Love is on People magazine's Best Books of Summer 2021 list. Her other books include the critically acclaimed middle-grade anthology Once Upon an Eid and the New York Times bestselling picture book The Proudest Blue.
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