Picture Book: I Have an Olive Tree
Author: Eve
Bunting
Illustrator: Karen
Barbour
Summary: Sophia,
age 7, is puzzled that her grandfather has given her an olive tree for her
birthday. Even more puzzling, the tree is on an island in Greece, where the
family lived before coming to California. Her grandfather explains that those
who purchased their house let them keep the tree as a symbol of their family’s
rootedness to Greece. When Sophia’s grandfather dies, he gives Sophia her
grandmother’s string of pearls and asks her to go to Greece and hang the pearls
on the olive tree. Upon arrival, they are dazzled by the strangeness of Greece
as they wait for the ferry to take them to the island. As they approach the
family home and tree, Sophia begins to have strange feelings. The tree was not as
Sophia imagined, but it moves her emotionally. She pulls the pearls out of her
backpack and her mother lifts her up so that she can hang the beads on a high
branch. Sophia realizes that the trip is not just about the beads. It is also
about her mother’s memories and Sophia gaining an understanding of her roots. As
Sophia considers coming back someday, she says, ”I have an olive tree.”
Hanna’s Comments: This is a rich story of family heritage and origin. Because
our Holy Scriptures are often about these same themes, you should have no
problem connecting this story to a variety of religious topics such as memory,
the power of place, altars, reverence, family bonds, or inheritance. Besides
connections to scripture, tie this story and a scripture to an aspect or person
in your local family of faith as well. Creating strong connections to the
people and place where you worship is invaluable and important for the future
of your spiritual community. Another direction you could take is to consider the spiritual symbolism of trees in general.
Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins
Publishers, 1999
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
# of Pages:
32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: Audio Cassette
PBT Category:
Pre 2K
PBT Topics this Book connects with: acceptance, action, adventure,
ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, babies/children, belonging,
birth/birthday, bonds/connections, change, death/loss/grief, Europe, exile/separation/walls,
family, fruit/fruit of the spirit, grandparents, heritage, home, identity/names,
journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, land/mountains/soil, love, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition,
reverence, self-discovery, travel, worship
Scripture Connections: I am like a green olive tree in the house of
God, I trust in the steadfast love of God (Psalm 52:8); your children will be
like olive shoots around you (Psalm 128:3b); a good person leaves an
inheritance (Proverbs 13:22); the word of God’s grace is able to give you your
inheritance (Acts 20:32); so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
– that you may be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17); rooted and
built up in him and established in the faith (Colossians 2:7); work heartily as
for the Lord, knowing that you will receive the inheritance as your reward
(Colossians 3:23)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or
teens who are learning about their religious or spiritual heritage or origins.
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