Common Sense Media Review
By Oliver Scout Guerisoli
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartfelt, community-oriented story of resilience and hope.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As MY OLIVE TREE opens, readers meet Salem learning to grow an olive tree from grandfather Sido. It's not as easy or as quick as a child might hope, and Salem learns to care for the plant with patience. Things are looking good for the young sprout until a military unit crushes it while marching through town. Sido gathers his community and together they replant many olive trees, teaching Salem to never feel alone and to never give up hope for peace.
Is It Any Good?
Heartfelt, Elbayya's debut picture book is a lesson in resilience and strength in community. My Olive Tree depicts people of all ages, dress, skin color, hair, and body type coming together to restore the hope of a young child. It is a book for all readers, young or old. In the face of war and oppression, Salem, Sido and their community remind us that the power to extend peace lives inside each of us—calling on us to plant seeds of hope and deepen our roots with each other for peace.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about peace in My Olive Tree. Where did Salem experience peace? Where did Sido experience peace? Where do you experience peace? Where can you create more peace with others?
Sido and Salem's community showed care, resilience, and teamwork when they helped to plant more olive trees. Who are your community members? Have you ever helped them? Have they ever helped you?
A town, homes, land, and countryside in Gaza are illustrated. What looks familiar to you? What looks different to you? What would you like to see more of?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Hazar Elbayya
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Anne Schwartz Books
- Publication date : September 17, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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