Bare Tree and Little Wind: A Story for Holy Week

by Mitali Perkins, Khoa Le (Illustrator)

A retelling of the Palm Sunday and Easter story.

"Real King is coming today!" Little Wind whooshed through the grove. The trees danced and sang.

Little Wind and the trees of Jerusalem can't wait for Real King to visit. But Little Wind is puzzled when the king doesn't look how he expected. His wise friend Bare Tree helps him learn that sometimes strength is found in sacrifice, and new life can spring up even when all hope seems lost.

Genres: Picture Books, Religion, Christian, Holiday, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 2022

About the author

Mitali Perkins has written many books for young readers as well as a couple for adults, including You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for the National Book Award) Rickshaw Girl (a NYPL best 100 Book for children in the past 100 years, film adaptation at rickshawgirlmovie.com), Bamboo People (an ALA Top 10 YA novel), and Forward Me Back to You, which won the South Asia Book Award for Younger Readers. Her newest novel, Hope in the Valley, received five starred reviews and was selected as a Best Book for Young Readers by Kirkus and Book Page. She currently writes and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area: mitaliperkins.com.

Reviews

[Meg Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely wish I could give this 5 stars.

Finding biblical stories for kids (hell, for grownups) that are culturally and racially accurate is near impossible. 10/10 to Perkins for having a Brown Jesus. 10/10 for the restrained use of blonde-haired-blue-eyed people. Love it.

Regrettably, this book isn't really about Holy Week. It covered Palm Sunday and the crucifixion but that's about where it ends. There is some early church history with the siege of Jerusalem and the First Jewish-Roman war but again, not Holy Week.

This book makes a beautifully illustrated and lovely lyrical addition to any shelf but don't rely on it for Holy Week instruction.

[Joellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Lenten read for all ages. The kind of storytelling that I greatly desire.

[Meredith Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bare Tree and Little Wind is such a unique story for Holy Week told from an unusual perspective. THe story celebrates new life and our anticipation for Jesus's return. Perkins writes with lyrical simplicity, and the story tugs at your heartstrings

This story is about endurance and perseverance. New life can spring from devastation, and Quiet Man may be the very Great King that Little WInd is anticipating. Perkins gentle story is one of hope and assurance. This is a new favorite for me; a story destined to be an Easter classic. Thoroughly recommended. GOd bless you all..

[Elizabeth Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve been fascinated by Mitali Perkins’ new release, featuring Little Wind and the trees of Jerusalem, who can’t wait for Real King to visit.

My daughters were very sad when Jesus was crucified, but loved that Bare Tree became not so bare, and her seeds populated the earth. They loved how this story explained how we as Christians spread the word that the Lord Jesus is the Real King and has risen from the dead for us and is coming again! This book is an excellent reminder of the promise of his triumphant return! The graphics in this storybook our stunning, and the story grabbed my daughter’s attention. I highly recommend adding it to your Easter collection.

[Bunmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for readers to get to see this beautiful book!

[Faith Elizabeth Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, beautiful story that focuses on the WHY of Easter.

[Dottie Bagwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet

[Genny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got this from the library to read to my boys because I'd heard wonderful reviews. The cover is beautiful... but IDK. It just didn't sit right with me, so decided not to read it to them.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was moving take on the Easter story.

[Samia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: Selected based on positive reviews in Booklist and SLJ’s 2024 Best Multicultural Books list.

Bare Tree and Little Wind is a poetic story told from the perspective of nature, set during Holy Week in Jerusalem. It’s quiet and powerful, with beautiful illustrations and lyrical language. While it’s rooted in Christian tradition, the message about renewal and hope feels universal. I thought the use of symbolism and metaphor was really well done, and the imagery throughout the book was striking.

Classroom Use (Grades 4–7): This book would be great for teaching figurative language—especially metaphor and personification. Students could do a close reading to analyze symbolism or write their own nature-inspired stories about change or growth. It could also be a strong cross-curricular resource for units connecting literature and visual art or cultural traditions.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A glimpse of 1st century Jerusalem during Holy Week from neither a Jewish or Christian perspective. Little Wind interacts with Tall Tree and Bare Tree and talks about a king who will come. Much of that shown in illustrations.
For me, it tries, but falls flat.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, lyrical celebration of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday, through Good Friday, the Ascension, and beyond. Gorgeous art brings to life Little Wind and Bare Tree’s roles in the spreading of joy and hope.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this picture book confusing and overly metaphorical, despite my high hopes for it and my deep, lifetime familiarity with the source material. This story probably just isn't for overly literal minds, but that means that it will appeal more to adults than children overall.

[Aletha Pagett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this beautiful little book from Goodreads. The artwork is stunning and engaging-love the brown faces! The text will encourage conversation for various ages. Excellent and unusual writing for children.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author makes a story from two Bible passages: Psalm 104:4: "He makes the winds His messengers." and Isaiah 55:12: "The trees of the field will clap their hands." This second verse reminds me of the time when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey's colt, and the Pharisees asked him to rebuke his disciples who were shouting praises to Him. Jesus told the Pharisees, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." And so this story first depicts Jesus's entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, with the trees and Little Wind just as joyful as the people. Next the trees and winds learn of the death, then resurrection of Jesus. Finally, Little Wind is present at the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A. D. 70., where the almost dead palm tree is spared. Finally, at the news that Jesus would come again some day, the Bare Tree starts coming back to life and spreading her seeds. This story is told from an unusual point of view, and the lush illustrations are lovely.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book from the moment I saw it. Le's pictures are flowing and beautiful. And Perkins' text is lyrical as well as she writes from the viewpoint of a "little wind" and a tree in Jerusalem. The subtitle, "A Story for Holy Week" is a bit misleading as the tale actually carries on after Jesus' resurrection to the spreading of the message of His return: "Real King is coming soon." I think this would be a great book to read along with the study of Acts.

I do think that many readers will be a bit confused about the burning of Jerusalem by the Roman soldiers. I was until I slowed down and reread the passage in context and realized it referred to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This is one place where the poetic text did not work as well as it could have. So, adults will probably need to explain this to children.

Small critiques aside, I highly recommend this book. It's one I will return to again and again.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Wind is excited as he hears the King is coming, and gets ready to help the palm trees all clap their hands. But the King doesn't look as Little Wind expected. Is this the true King?

This adds a folklorish element to Jesus' triumphal entry, death, and the promise of his return in the future. The fantasy elements are based on the Psalms and Isaiah passages about the wind and trees which Perkins and Le turned into sentient creatures looking for the Messiah and his 2nd return. This may take some explaining to kids (and adults may need to know some history of what happened to Jerusalem around 70 AD to understand the burning part), but it really helps convey the anticipation that Holy Week is supposed to bring for Jesus' next return. Recommended to Christian families and schools.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to see a book with Jesus as a character written by Mitali Perkins. It is lyrical and tells of Jesus' Palm Sunday entrance to Jerusalem and His crucifixion which brought tears to my eyes. But then it seems to question the whole reason He has come and rose again assuring believers of eternal life. It veered more into environmental story of seeds' resurrection of the trees on earth. The Holy Week story is about The Kingdom of God which is not of this world. One review I read was about how Christians are the seeds and this is a metaphor of this. I like this. The reviews include the sacrifice of love but I don't see that in the book. High hopes but disappointed. I am appreciative of the conversation it creates and the differing perspectives which make me curious...

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story for Holy Week. The Little Wind travels among the trees and learns of the King who is coming. One of the Wind's special friends is Bare Tree who has given everything for humans. Readers see this special friendship bloom and see the event of Holy Week and beyond. One day, Little Wind returns to visit Bare Tree after the destruction of Jerusalem and discovers flowers blooming on her. Bare Tree tells Little Wind to take the seeds all over the earth to prepare for the King's return.
Lovely illustrations to support the story.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd had this on my list and finally decided I would just buy it (from our local bookstore - they didn't have it in stock, but ordered it easily) and read it. It was an interesting story about both Holy Week and how the church grew in the early days, told from the point of view of a tree and a wind "spirit." The artwork is beautiful, and with fewer kids books written about this part of the church year, it's a nice addition.

(I'm just writing this in June because I realized it was still on my "to read" shelf and I hadn't noted reading it!)

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by Scripture, this is a retelling of Jesus's visit to Jerusalem told from the point of view of Little Wind. The story begins with the waiting for the Real King to arrive. It continues with references to the events during Holy Week and after, including the burning of Jerusalem. It ends with waiting for the Real King to return. Although this is a picture book, this will be better understood by readers who are familiar with the Scripture references.

"'Real King is coming soon.
Watch and wait.'
And they do."

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a story that is supposed to be about Holy Week, it's an interesting choice to make the wind the main character. As a Christian, my problems are:
1. We're not actually talking about the divinity of Jesus, and instead casting doubt of if He is "Real King."
2. We're personifying the wind, which feels a little more spiritual and less religious.
This book could have been greatly helped by some back matter, both to summarize the Biblical narrative as well as to explain the section depicting the siege of Jerusalem during AD 70.

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated story set during Holy Week. I was surprised it focused more on Palm Sunday and the time after Easter than on Easter itself, so that was interesting. And I was initially thrown by the Little Wind narrator but ended up enjoying that unique choice and the perspective it gave on the story of Easter.

Recommend if this is something you're looking for!

CW: Crucifixion, fire, grief

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, uniquely-illustrated Biblical story that touches on Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crucifixion, and the siege of Jerusalem. That being said, it doesn't remain solely about Holy Week, and being mainly a picture book, children will definitely need the guidance of adults well-versed in Scripture to understand it. It does mention that Jesus will be coming back, and that is the focus of the last 1/3-1/2 of the book.

[Laura Kisthardt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. It is extremely “imaginative.” Normally I enjoy creative interpretations, but I cannot recommend using this book to teach children about Holy Week. The story of Little Wind is very vague and ambiguous. I think it would be difficult for young children to understand how this story relates to the Bible stories. It is disappointing because the artwork is beautiful and I was optimistic about the story.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just too abstract for me. Even having some familiarity with the subject matter, I found it confusing. The illustrations are captivating but I would have found several pages quite disturbing as a child with all the soldiers, flames, etc. That said, I see the book resonated for many readers and it might be worth checking out if you are looking for a religious Easter picture book.

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely GORGEOUS! It is a beautiful book celebrating Holy Week and the events leading up to it. It's absolutely perfect for this week! Khoa Le is an amazing illustrator, we love her books!

Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a Christian story but confusing story to me.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic children’s book rejoicing in Christ’s triumphal entry and looking forward to the His second coming. All of creation will rejoice!

4/16/22 Read with Naomi and Julia

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually didn't realize this was a Christian book - the story was alright, though I thought the art was kind of weird at parts (especially the human head on a gust of wind).