Circles of Hope Book

After many futile attempts to plant a tree in honor of his new baby sister, a young Haitian boy discovers the perfect solution.

Elizabeth Young - Children's Literature

Everyone has a gift for the new baby, Lucia, except her brother, Facile. With Papa working far away in the city there is no one to plant a tree for her. Traditionally, a fruit tree is planted when a child is born in the mountainous villages in Haiti, and the tree grows up to be a guardian of the child. With no one to plant Lucia's tree, Facile realizes the planting will be his responsibility. Facile places a mango seed in the earth, waters it and waits for it to sprout, but is soon eaten by a goat. Two other attempts are made by Facile, and each time the seed—and his hope of a gift for his sister—are lost. Lucia grows quite ill, and is taken to the doctor far away in the city. Facile is determined to have a gift for Lucia on her return, but learns he must have hope to plant a tree. In one last effort, a seed is planted and a tree is born. Healing has come to Facile's family—Lucia is well, Papa returns and the tree thrives because Facile had hope. Exuberant charcoal and pastel illustrations ooze of the disparity as well as the intensity of Facile's emotions. The story is energized with color—from contrasting sky and earth, to the soothing, comforting shades of the grass and tree. An important reminder that there is always hope. 2005, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 to 8.