Elisha and the Cacao Trees

Gr 4–9—Elisha, 13, lives in the small San Pedro Columbia Village in Belize. The multilingual teen spends her days going to school, playing with her siblings, and harvesting cacao with her extended family. Women in Elisha's family are shown in their traditional roles of cooking and taking care of younger children. While harvesting the cacao is very important to her family, Elisha is a focused student and has scholarly goals. The film is narrated primarily by Elisha, but her mother and father take active roles in explaining the chocolate-making process. A brainstorming activity with text animations offers "Did you know?" type questions designed to include viewers in the cacao making procedures. Background music complements Elisha's story, but occasionally overshadows the narration, making Elisha's accented voice difficult to understand. English and French versions are available. An additional purchase suitable for group viewing with teacher guidance.—Amanda Schiavulli, West Orange Public Library, NJ