I Have an Olive Tree: A Glorious Picture Book about Discovering Family Ties and Heritage Through a Journey to Greece for children

by Eve Bunting, Karen Barbour (Illustrator)

The day I was seven, my grandfather gave me and olive tree... At first, Sophia thinks the tree is an odd gift, but when Grandfather dies and her mother travel to Greece to see the tree, she discovers that what he discovers that what he has given her is far greater than she'd ever imagined. A testimony to the wondrous ties of family and heritage, this glorious picture book brings together the beautiful writing of acclaimed author Eve Bunting and the exuberant paintings of artist Karen Barbour.

Genres: Picture Books, Cultural, Fiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1999

About the author

Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book that I cannot read without crying. It's about life and death. Having respect for our elders and loved ones. Valuing tradition and learning more about who we are and where our families came from and evolved to over time. It's about love and family. An amazing book!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

For thousands of years, according to Greek tradition, olive trees have been sacred. The Goddess Athena gave an olive tree to Athens. To this day, if you go to Greece visit the Acropolis you can and see this sacred olive tree, located by the west porch of the Erectheion.

Knowing just a bit about all this, due to my interest in ancient Greece, I could appreciate what it meant to Sophia (the narrator of this story) when, to quote her:

The day I was seven, my grandfather gave me an olive tree. This tree was located in Greece, where Sophia's grandparents lived before emigrating to California.

During this story, Sophia is a California girl who winds up learning a great deal about her gift, and also her heritage.

The ending is so beautiful. You'll have to see it for yourselves, Goodreaders. No spoilers from me, no no! Just FIVE STARS of appreciation.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The day I was seven, my grandfather gave me an olive tree..." -- an odd gift perhaps, but this tree is in his homeland of Greece, and one day Sophia and her mother take a trip there to visit her tree. This book made me cry with its gentle conveying of Home, Family and beautiful Greek culture. An adult book that just looks like a child's picture book.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet and, like all of Bunting's books, from the child's point of view of her grandfather, her mother's reaction to seeing the island, and all the other sights and sounds. Great swaths of color in Barbour's illustrations, with hundreds of curly-Qs.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Speaks to the experience of second generation immigrants -- those that don't remember the home country.

[Megan]

CURRICULUM: RR/Classics

[Allie Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

8. This story starts in modern day California where a third generation Greek girl, Sophia is given an olive tree for her birthday by her grandfather. Sophia wanted a skateboard and doesn’t quite understand why her grandfather has given her a tree planted all the way in Greece. The story unfolds as the grandfather dies and asks that Sophia travels to her mother’s homeland to hang beads on that very tree in remembrance of her grandmother. Sophia and her mother start out on the long journey to Europe to pay respects to the homeland of their family that has passed. As they travel, everything is new to Sophia but at the same time she feels a vague sense of connectedness. She encounters a priest, a women herding sheep and storekeeper that for some reason she feels like she has known a lifetime. As they draw closer and closer to the property that the tree is on, her mother begins to get emotional because of all the ties she has to her old home. The moment that Sophie sees this larger than life olive tree that her grandfather has given her, she stands in awe. For the first time in her life she understands why her Greek roots are so important; this was the land that her family finds identity in. The theme of the book is ever so clear; it is vital that individuals know where they came from so that they understand their family’s legacy. I see that this book speaks to finding one’s identity and taking ownership of the heritage of one’s family members. I would give this book five out of five stars because the author does an amazing job of intermixing a story that young children can follow with amazing illustration that help share the heart behind the book. This is quality children’s literature. This book makes me think of my Aunt Jana. She is from Germany and married my uncle. I think it is tough for her to raise children in America because it is just so different than the communist Germany that she grew up in. I do see how much she loves her culture and her people. I can understand how cultural identity shapes every part of a person. I would recommend this book to any teacher who would like to introduce the idea of cultural awareness or that would like to help student explore their family’s heritage.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students know that I adore books written by Eve Bunting, particularly those with messages or that explore important issues. I have no idea how I missed this one until recently, but I am happy to add it to my collection. On her seventh birthday, Sophie receives a strange gift from her grandfather--an olive tree. Not wanting to hurt his feelings, Sophie doesn't let on how disappointed she is to have a gift that is in Greece. After his death, she and her mother travel to Greece to see the olive tree and to place her grandmother's necklace on one of its branches. As they move closer to their destination and walk along the town's streets, both Sophie and her mother are moved, no doubt thinking of the journey taken by their ancestors, and the importance of one's heritage. Although the olive tree is old and seems no longer to bear fruit, it remains standing after all that time. The author uses evocative language to describe the necklace's beads: "like liquid gold" (unpaged) and "like big bubbles of honey" (unpaged). And although the book's message is subtle, it is also clear that one's origin matters and that we must remember and honor our roots as Sophie realizes, having received far more from this unexpected gift that she had ever imagined. I cannot imagine anyone whose heart wouldn't be touched by the simple story and the intricate, color-splashed illustrations. Readers will need to turn the book sideways to get the full impact of that olive tree as it stands out against the vivid colors of the sea. For classes examining family history or plotting a family tree or even introducing a lesson on immigration, this picture book might serve as a wonderful introductory reading. Clearly, we are products from where we and our families came as well as from where we are right now, as the book shows so perfectly.

[Fisal Ansari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age:
Grades 4-8

Genre:
General Fiction

Diversity:
Greek heritage, ethnic perspectives.

Illustrations:
Amazing illustrations by Karen Barbour. She uses different positions on the page to capture the images. And the colors run deep and show life, mood.

Personal response:
I thought this book was amazing because it provided a narrative that was tied into culture.

Curricular or programming connections:
The idea of heritage and family ties could be explored through graphing.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia wanted a skateboard for her seventh birthday. Her grandfather gives her the olive tree back in Greece. A year later when her grandfather is dying, he gives her his keepsake to place on the tree. He saved money for Sophia and her mother to go to Greece.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story of cultural awakening for a little girl is not unfamiliar material for an Eve Bunting book. I liked the story, though the illustrations were a little bit simplistic and not my favorite style. Exploring Greek culture is definitely a new twist for her. I liked the story.

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it reminds me of my grandpa because in the book her grandpa dies just like mine did.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shares the story of a young girl learning about her family ties to Greece through an olive tree given to her from her grandfather.

[Cana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommy says: F didn't care for the illustrations, but it was a good story. Mommy even got choked up a little near the end.

[Finny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommy says: F didn't care for the illustrations, but it was a good story. Mommy even got choked up a little near the end.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used with teaching theme in author analysis unit

[Colleen]

Family Album - unit 1
Leveled Books - Intermediate

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story--the art work not so much.