These Olive Trees

I have an unusual book recommendation for you on the eve of Diwali/Deepavali. Like me and countless others, if you’ve been following Bisan Owda (“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘎𝘢𝘻𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦”), like me and countless others, if you believe that the spirit of Diwali lies in hope over despair, light over darkness, then this festive season, read “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆”. I urge you to read this beautiful picture book set in Palestine about migration, and as history repeats itself, the reader in you would realise that it isn’t about taking sides based on religion, politics and nationality, it is all about taking sides with people like Oraib, and in today’s context, with people like Bisan, Plestia and Motaz (citizen journalists; young men and women who once had hopes and dreams), it is all about taking the side of humanity.

Read Oraib’s story aloud to your class kids, Oraib, the author’s grandmother, who had to migrate because war came, Oraib, who inspires love, hope and resilience.