ACHUKA Book of the Day 21 Sep 2021
“Becker’s lovely, elongated watercolor and colored-pencil compositions emphasize the vertical stature of the Twin Towers, the “steel straight” trunks of the trees around it, and the erect posture of the Statue of Liberty. The book’s trim size and occasional use of vertical type further reinforce the notion of standing tall. While there have been several books to date about the Survivor Tree, this one is particularly well suited to young audiences and perfectly reflects the book’s dedication: “May peace and hope grow from the darkest of our days.” Horn Book
“Rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, lush illustrations by Caldecott Honoree Becker realistically reflect the city setting and the story’s natural elements while leaving space for images of a varied array of human characters. A sensitive, accessible entry point into a relatively recent tragedy.” Publishers Weekly
“Hazy, delicate watercolor-and–colored pencil artwork powerfully traces the tree’s existence before and after the towers’ collapse; early pages include several snapshotlike insets capturing people enjoying the outdoors through the seasons. Scenes depicting the towers’ ruins are aptly somber yet hopeful, as they show the crushed tree still defiantly alive… A lovely 20th-anniversary tribute to the towers and all who perished—and survived.” KIRKUS
One September day, the perfect blue sky exploded. Dust billowed. Buildings crumbled. And underneath it all, a tree sprouted green leaves in its distress. Pulled from the wreckage, the tree saw many seasons pass as it slowly recovered far away from home. Until one day, forever scarred and forever stronger, it was replanted at the 9/11 Memorial.
This story of the real Survivor Tree uses nature’s cycle of colors to reflect on the hope and healing that come after a tragedy — and assures readers of their own remarkable resilience.
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