A few years ago on a hot summer day my wife, Marcella, and I were going for a morning walk in the park. We passed many trees but when we passed a beautiful large oak tree she said that she just received an inspiration.
I asked what was it about and she said that the tree was crying. I again asked what she meant and she said that she got an inspiration to write a children’s book about two boys who were beating up and hanging from the branches of a similar oak tree and it made the tree cry. She said that trees must have feelings just as humans do and when we abuse them they hurt.
Fast forward to this Spring and she told me that she needed to write that book about the tree. She is a math and science 6th Grade school teacher and has been busy with work, caring for her 95 year old mom and getting through about 10 months of a serious eye problem that rendered her in constant paid during that entire time. Now she has a little breathing room, if you can call it that. But, she said, I am sure God wants me to do this book.
By the beginning of this Summer the book was completed. Her goal as a teacher was to reach each child even one at a time. However, through books, she would be able to reach many.
Her intent is that this book would be used as a starting point for discussions on how we should respect plants, animals, the environment and each other, especially those different from us and also the elderly. Yes, that is saying a lot but when she read it too me I knew she was on to something big.
“And The Tree Cried Out” is a story about two boys, Rodney (who is African-American) and Alex (who is Caucasian). Their mothers pack them lunch and snacks and they pulled their red wagon down the path to the local fishing hole on a hot and sunny summer day.
On the way they played and paused under a large oak tree both to get shade from the heat and also to beat the tree and climb and hang on its branches.
Feeling some raindrops they became disappointed that their fun day would have to prematurely end. But, looking at the sky, it was still bright and sunny. That was odd.
They paused from their playing to eat and drink their juice and then fell asleep. Alex dreamed that “Mr. Tree” was actually talking to him and explained that the drops they felt were not raindrops but his tears! He explained that trees have feelings!
He went on that he observed humans through the years and how they mistreated many things including each other, especially if they are different, and even their grandparents and that it wasn’t right.
Alex woke up and told Rodney about his dream, which they discuss in detail and agree to try to treat others and the environment with respect.
The book is only available online at www.BarrettBooksDayton.com. The book has been translated into Spanish and will also be available soon.
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