Under the Baobab Tree

PreS-Gr 2—In an unspecified African country, a brother and sister walk to their village, wondering who will gather today under the baobab tree. As the central gathering place, it might be hosting a market, a storyteller, or elders discussing local business. No one is there when the children arrive, but gradually a crowd gathers. Soon the children learn that today's event will be a service—"Here there are no windows or doors. No church bell or steeple. No organ or flowers. Just a cross and a Bible, a pastor and songs, voices and prayers." Lewis's glowing watercolors convey the contemporary savanna setting with warmth and energy. Sunlight and color fill each frame as the siblings make their journey, while leafy endpapers signal the tree's importance. Religion is part of the children's daily existence, along with the plants, animals, and weather. The author suggests that the people view both God and the baobab tree as providing support for their lives. This book could be used effectively with Cristina Kessler's My Great-Grandmother's Gourd (Orchard, 2000), another title that demonstrates the importance of the baobab tree to village life.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA