Out of the Way! Out of the Way!

by Uma Krishnaswami

Selected for the USBBY Outstanding International Book List A young boy spots a baby tree growing in the middle of a dusty path in his village. He carefully places rocks around it as the local mango seller rushes past shouting, "Out of the way! Out of the way!" As the tree grows bigger, people and animals traverse the path until it becomes a lane, flowing like a river around the tree― getting out of its way. Over time, the lane becomes a road, and a young man crossing the road with his children remembers the baby tree from long ago. By the time he is an old man, the tree has become a giant. The city traffic continues to rattle past, noisier and busier than ever, but sometimes the great tree works its magic, and people just stop, and listen. In this simple, lyrical story, a wide-spreading tree and a busy road grow simultaneously, even as time passes and the footsteps of people and animals give way to speeding cars, buses and trucks. The illustrations, in pen-and-ink with vibrant blocks of color, have a classic folk-art feel. The author and illustrator, who really do share the same name (except for the last letter!), have always wanted to do a book together. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2
With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5
Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Cultural, Nature, India, Kids

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tree in India grows as the busy city sprouts up around it. This is a wonderful reminder to all to stop and smell the roses enjoy what nature has to offer.

The detail-filled, and occasionally frenetic artwork by Uma Krishnaswamy really adds to the fun.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful picture book.
The story captures the breadth of past, present, and future in just a few words as a boy who protected a tiny tree growing in a dusty path observes how both the path (which becomes a road) and the sapling (which becomes a towering tree) and those who pass by on the road and the animals visit the tree all make room for each other.
A great book about urban growth, India, and getting along with others.

The Indian folk art style pictures are a delight and authentically show India, both its countryside and city.

This would be a great book to read aloud and offers great possibilities for listener participation.
I plan to buy copies of this book to use as gifts.
(It will soon be available in N. America.)

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tree becomes a respite for people caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A charming story about appreciating the value of slowness in a fast-moving world beautifully illustrated in traditional Indian folk art styles.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A covert warning about nature deficit disorder. What would our cities, our lives, be without trees and their invitation to stop and "just be" for a while?

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 2010 in India, this book was later published in the US and Canada in 2012. To locate this book, I used the text “Children’s Books in Children’s Hands” and read an e-book edition from my local library that had the option of narration. The text starts out very simple and tells of a boy who discovers a small tree growing in a commonly used path in his village. He surrounds it with rocks in an effort to help it. Over time, the path is diverted to go around the tree as it grows, and the changes that occur in the village. The illustrations are cheerful and bright, drawing the reader into the story. This book works very well for any audience, because people all around the world can relate to the hustle and bustle of change as the world moves along. The language is simple and straightforward, and while there are a few cultural words that may be unknown, it is very accessible to readers of all ages. I think this would work particularly well for early elementary, especially in discussions about community.

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boy plants a tree near a business intersection and watches as time passes and it grows to its full size, towering over everything and everyone around it. I'm guessing the moral behind this was appreciating nature?

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations of an Indian village as it grows with the tree are a riot of motion and color. Great message about protecting a sapling tree, and not letting our human progress get in the way of respect for nature and the peace it offers.

[Madeline West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it showed that nature matters uniquely, which I have never seen before. Even if it's just one tree, we still need to take care of it as it will live long. Every once in a while, stop and appreciate nature—an excellent book to read around earth day or just any day.

[Linda Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story that I am sure will be a favorite among my younger (K-1) students.
I can see pairing this up with "The Giving Tree" for slightly older students.

[Lesley Burnap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever story of a boy planting a seedling as the world speedily moves by. The boy and his tree slow down and take notice of all that’s happening around them.

[Tegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about the progression of time and how we affect the world around us with change. A great companion read for The Little House and The Giving Tree.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of development and growth, and the importance of greenery.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story!...and I especially enjoyed the Uma Krishnaswamy illustrations.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in India, the story Out of the Way! Out of the Way! is depicted through vibrant and traditional Indian folk-art illustrations. A boy spots a small “baby tree” growing in a pothole in the dirt path that weaves through his village. Despite the ever changing and growing community around it, the determined tree grows strong in the midst of it all. Through repetition and the symbol of the growing tree, Uma Krishnaswami sends the message that time cannot change all things.

[Emma Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of the Way! Out of the Way!

Uma Krishnaswami

First published 2010/ 28 pages

I thought this book was alright. To me, the storyline was kind of hard to follow. I wasn't quite sure what the purpose of the story was. My favorite part of the story was the illustrations. I liked the use of bright colors throughout the story. In the classroom, I could use this book to teach the idea of time.

[Selena · Rating 3 out of 5]

International literature, realistic fiction, 2012. The streets of India are very busy, and chaotic! “Out of my way!” People say. But a tree starts growing bigger and bigger and the people need to get out of its way for it to grow! Children can relate to the busy streets and being in a rush.

[Natalya Botero · Rating 4 out of 5]

(2010)This was a great story about how sometimes in life, you need to just slow down. This could be a great story for when my students are feeling stressed out, to remind them on the joys in life. (Fiction)

[Danielle Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was unique how the author and illustrator have almost identical names on this book. The aspect of this book that stood out most to me is the illustrations. I love how bright and colorful they are. Some figures in the illustrations are still black and white which adds uniqueness to the drawings. I feel like this techniques creates a flow when looking at the pages.

This book holds an "Outstanding International" award. Referring to the www.usbby.org webite, the books with this awards should be:

-Books that represent the best of children´s literature from other countries
-Books that introduce American readers to outstanding authors and illustrators from other countries
-Books that help American children see the world from other points of view
-Books that provide a perspective or address a topic otherwise missing from children´s literature in the U.S.
-Books that exhibit a distinct cultural flavor
-Books that are accessible to American readers.

Vance, Ellis V. "USBBY Outstanding International Books (OIB) List." USBBY.org. USBBY.org, Web. 10 September 2013. http://www.usbby.org/list_oibl.html.

I agree that this book deserves this award. The author, now living in New Mexico was originally born in India. The illustrator is also from India. Between the text and illustration, a strong sense of the Indian culture is felt. On the pages, a varied of animals that can be found in India are displayed. People are shown carrying objects on their heads and the children are shown playing games found in India. I feel as if a very well representation is shown about India in this story which American children will be able to relate to and enjoy.

[Xin Luan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this lyrical story, a tree grow up, going with the development of the village. This tree was planted by a boy in the middle of a dusty path. While the village became more and more busy，and the street became a road, the tree became a giant. I like the style of the pictures. The illustrations, in pen-and-ink with vibrant blocks of color, have a traditional Indian folk-art feel.
This is a great book to read aloud in class. Maybe, it is also perfect to timeline work. Let students list timelines about from baby tree to a wide spread tree, from village to city, and from a boy to a man. that is a funny process for finding the change around this tree.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy protects a seedling that grows into a tree that provides sustenance and respite from the rapidly-growing city that springs up around it. Despite the busy lives the passersby lead, they still stop once in awhile to spend time under the tree, replenishing their energy and savoring its beauty. I like the across the generations nature of the story and the fact that even cities can contain quiet natural sanctuaries. The primary-color-filled illustrations appeal to the senses as well. Because of the rhythmic quality of the writing, this would be an excellent read aloud choice.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This colorful folk art book gives the reader a view of the diversity of life in India. The illustrator has used pen and ink with the addition of vibrant colors to enhance the words. The text chronicles the ways that a path around a tree changes through many years from single path to a busy village road. The tree begins as a young sapling and grows into a huge tree. The people in the story gather near and under it so that they still can enjoy the life of a splendid example of nature. USBBY Outstanding International Book, 2013.

[Ambika Sambasivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely little book is beautifully illustrated. There is so much detail in the images that I found new things with every read. The story revolves around a tree planted in the center of a village path. As the path expands to become a track, a street and finally, a busy road, the tree grows peacefully in the middle, reminding bustling travelers to stop and listen. The story and artwork work together to evoke an idyllic image of village life in India. This book is a keeper!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boy sees a tree sprouting out of the ground and does everything he can to ensure it grows. As it grows larger and larger we see the town evolve around it. A sweet story that would do best read aloud. I can see using it as a teaching tool to talk about communities and ecology. I am not a huge fan of the illustrations. I think had the story been illustrated better it would have brought more life to the book. My 8 yr old didn't have too much too comment on with this story.

[Eileen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes you through the life of a tree and the growing of a town into a city. It is well written and speaks to the listeners about how things are constantly changing. One little boy in a moment in his life changed the way a his town looked by protecting a baby tree. Even with the ever growing town, the people, the cars, the road this tree continued to thrive and provide for the town, the people and birds.
The illustrations are beautiful. This book is sure to be a hit with kids.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades K-4. Beautiful art from India-- a man plants a seed, which eventually grows into a tree-- a slow beautiful process that can only be appreciated by those who take the time to slow down. Also shows the process of the country growing into a city, and of newer technologies being adopted. Shows wildlife attracted to mature trees. Might be fun for a timeline assignment

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone must go "out of the way" of the sapling, that grows to a young tree, to a mature tree. A path develops around the tree, then into a road, as travelrs go "out of the way." As the tree grows it provides shade, a home for birds and other animals, a place to picnic, or to rest and think. Beautiful bright colored illustrations.

Set in India; definite sense of place and culture.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lyrical story set in India about the changes to a small village as it becomes a bustling metropolis. At the heart of the story is a tree that grows from a small sapling into a big beautiful tree. Illustrations are pen and ink with vibrant colors in traditional Indian folk-art syles.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this picture book, but I'm not sure where I would use it. It might work well for a nature theme for older preschoolers and up. It reminds me of the pictures books and beginning reader books from the 40s and 50s. Very nice!

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful and delightfully busy illustrations inspired by Indian folk-art complement this lyrical tale about a tiny sapling that gradually becomes a magnificent tree, a sleepy village that gradually becomes a bustling metropolis, and the way stories bring people together.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a tree planted in the middle of a dirt path in Inda that grows as the town changes from a dirt path to a busy street. The illustrations are simple yet boldly colorful.