The Abba Tree

By: Devora Busheri

Narrated by: Book Buddy Digital Media

Length: 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Hannah and Abba - Hebrew for "Dad" - are spending time together in nature on Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish Arbor Day. As Abba rests under a carob tree, Hannah declares that she wants to climb a tree. The carob tree's trunk is too skinny, but can she climb a eucalyptus tree or a pine tree or an olive tree? When each poses a challenge - for being too scratchy, for not having footholds - Abba offers new inspiration for climbing and insight into what Hannah and the carob tree share in common.

©2020 Devora Busheri (P)2020 Lerner Digital ™

Critic reviews

"What is the titular Abba Tree? The flyleaf explains that Abba is the Hebrew word for father, but most kids will intuit the meaning, as little, bespectacled Hannah tries to communicate with her tall, lanky dad while he grabs a nap under his favorite carob tree. The carob has a special relation to the Jewish observance Tu B’Shevat, and Abba planted this particular tree for Hannah the year she was born. Hannah wants to climb a tree, but she knows that this carob is young and weak. She finds others nearby: first the eucalyptus, whose 'trunk [is] slippery,' then the pine, whose 'bark [is] rough and scratchy,' and finally, the olive, with pollen that 'tickle[s] Hannah’s nose.' Not finding any of these satisfactory, she goes to wake Abba. When faced with her request, he wittily suggests: 'Plant an Abba Tree.' Hannah positions her father upright with his feet as roots and his strong arms out straight, holding branches bearing an upside-down bat and a right-side-up owl. This Israeli import, translated from the Hebrew, is quietly amusing, but with no real explanation of the holiday’s meaning, it assumes a knowledgeable readership.... A sweet father-daughter tale well-suited for homes familiar with Tu B’Shevat." (Kirkus Reviews)