Circles of Hope

Summary: Everyone brought a gift for baby Lucfa. Facile sat high up in his mango tree and watched. It was the only tree on the whole dusty mountaintop. Papa had planted it for him when he was born. "A strong tree protects its timoun," Papa said.Young Facile wants to plant a tree in honor of his new baby sister, but he faces many obstacles. The first seed he plants is eaten by a goat, the second seed is washed away in a storm, and another seed is burnt by a scrub fire. Will Facile ever be able to plant a tree that will grow strong for baby Lucía?In this story of determination, faith, and love, author Karen Lynn Williams introduces readers to the realities of rural life in the mountains of Haiti. Imbued with brilliant colors, expressive characters, and vivid landscapes, Linda Saport's illustrations capture the indomitable spirit of hope. Quotes:AWARDS and RECOGNITIONSSociety of Illustrators, The Original Art Annual Exhibition (2005)ReadBoston, Best Read Aloud Book, runner-up (2005)Green Earth Book Award, Honorable Mention, Children's Books (2006)Skipping Stones Magazine, Skipping Stones Honor Award (2006)Bank Street College, Best Children's Books of the Year (2006)Peace Corps Writers Association, Best Children's Writing (2006) REVIEWSBulletin of the Center for Children's Books"The gentle story and vivid visuals . . . make this book a solid candidate for inclusion in storytimes about growth or hope. Recommended." Kirkus Reviews"A story of sibling love and responsibility, written without didacticism or sentimentalism." Publishers Weekly"In this hopeful, gentle account, Williams frames the tale of a Haitian boy's struggle to keep a tree alive against the larger story of his country's struggle against poverty. . . . This uplifting tale suggests that one child can make a difference — a powerful message for readers." School Library Journal"This heartfelt story is supplemented by a glossary of Creole words and an author's note explaining the Haitian custom of planting a fruit tree at the birth of a child. The vibrant charcoal-and-pastel full-spread illustrations are rich with color and add an exotic, dreamlike quality to the story. . . [A] hopeful tale of family unity."Author Bio: Karen Lynn Williams has written several books about the difficult lives of children around the world, including Galimoto (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard), Tap-Tap (Clarion), and Circles of Hope (Eerdmans). Karen has lived in Haiti and Malawi, but now lives in Pit