Hilwa's Gifts

December 15, 2024
On a trip to visit his Palestinian grandparents, a young boy discovers all that olive trees have to offer. Ali's visits have never before coincided with the olive harvest. As he and Seedo (Grandfather) stroll through the grove, Ali dashes over to Hilwa, his favorite olive tree. Just then, Ali notices his grandmother using a stick to knock olives from a tree while his cousins happily gather the fruit into a woven basket. Concerned, Ali asks, "Doesn't it hurt?" Seedo reassures Ali that they'd never hurt the olive trees: "Their gifts are far too precious." Still, Ali wants to pick Hilwa's olives carefully one by one but eventually relents, gently whacking at its limbs to release the olives. Ali soon learns more about all that the trees provide: olive oil, pulp for fires, soap, and more. Soon Ali's trip comes to a close, and Hilwa's final gift is revealed--Seedo gives one of the tree's branches to Ali so the boy can take a part of his heritage home. Suleiman's happy childhood memories come alive in this heartwarming story of tradition passed down through generations. Semirdzhyan's earth-toned, digitally created illustrations capture the family affair that is the olive season, from Ali's relatives clapping and singing merrily as they harvest fruit to everyone sitting down for a picnic among the ancient groves. An Arabic glossary and author's note provide further context. An authentic and heartfelt celebration of family and nature.(Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from February 1, 2025
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* Ali arrives in Palestine with his mother to visit the family's olive harvest. He and his seedo (grandfather) pass through the olive groves to visit Hilwa, the beloved tree Seedo planted with his own grandfather. As Seedo explains to Ali about the plentiful gifts, they see the rest of the family whacking the trees. "Zaytoon, ya zaytoon," they sing as Hilwa and the other trees shower down olives, showing Ali the plentiful gifts that olive trees bring. As Ali and his mother head home, Seedo has one more gift to share: a branch from Hilwa to serve as a reminder for his family--and of Palestine. This timely book, based on Suleiman's experience harvesting olives with her family, highlights an underrepresented culture. Authenticity and celebration are at the heart of Hilwa's Gifts, as Arabic terms are incorporated throughout the story (supplemented by a glossary and an author's note about Palestine). The nostalgia from visiting family is encapsulated through the earth-toned color palette and textures from Semirdzhyan's digital watercolor illustrations. The last spread in particular captures this feeling by showing that family traditions can surpass space and time. Ali plants Hilwa in his own backyard just like Seedo and his grandfather did once before. Combining a centuries-old practice with the story about a Palestinian family and their relationship to the land makes Hilwa's Gifts an absolute treasure.

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