In the orchard, an ancient tree whose tangled branches form a crown, the Peach King watches over the younger trees as they grow and change as Mother Nature and the seasons cycle, warning of weather and calling the birds when the grasshoppers threaten. Little Peach Tree blossoms and fruits, loses its leaves and shivers through winter in the endless rotation of life as the weather works through the annual patterns of life on the far south coast of New South Wales.
But changes are coming as the rains come less often, the neighbouring forest turns brown, Peach King's limbs turn brittle and fall, and as the air itself crackles and shimmers, people came and picked every peach, ready or not, off the branches...
And then comes the fire...
Described as "a contemporary fable about the resilience of nature" because eventually the rains come and while the Peach King is lost, Little Peach Tree and the others in the orchard, literally dig deep and begin the cycle again, it is in the author's notes that the origins of the story are revealed - the Black Summer of 2019-2020 when the fire dragon devoured so much of the south-east of NSW, particularly the Currowan fire which began just north of Bateman's Bay and raged for 74 days destroying so much in its relentless push eastward as it joined with other fires, stopped only when it reached the sea, and the torrential rains which finally fell in February. So while this is a story about the strength and endurance of Mother Nature as the trees sprout new growth, the birds return and the Little Peach Tree's limbs twist and grow into a crown, because the impact of the fire is still being felt, and fire season is on our doorstep again, it could be a trigger for some who are still recovering.
Beyond that though, this is a story that explores the concept of life cycles, the constant renewal of life in the landscape, generational change as young grow and mature and take their place as leaders while acknowledging and building on those who have gone before, all supported in various ways through the artistry of Harricks, so as well as possibly being a trigger it could also be a pathway forward as despite the devastation, the reader is taken beyond that to a thriving future. As well as personal memories - we, ourselves, evacuated twice - there are plenty of images of blackened landscapes that record how it was, and how, five years on, the extent of the recovery is evident. The 'then' scars are still evident, but the 'now' images are visible, offering hope and expectation of a more positive future.
As with most other books, how this one is interpreted will depend on what existing knowledge is brought to the reading. For those who did not or have not been through the experience, it offers scope for delving deeper into climate change, environment and sustainability and other phenomena, while for those who remember the time when the sky was black at midday and even breathing was difficult, it offers a chance to reflect and mark the milestones that have been achieved and continue moving forward.
This review can also be found here.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
32 pages 9780734418517 Ages 7-10
Keywords: fable, peaches, trees, life cycle, forest fire, environmental stewardship, ecosystem, renewal, nature, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, Science Curriculum
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
