Hilwa’s Gifts
Safa Suleiman, illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan
Ali visits his grandparents in Palestine during the olive harvest and spends time with Hilwa, a mature olive tree his grandfather calls a giver of many gifts. Family members gather fallen olives, while cousins sing, clap, and dance in the grove. At the olive press, Ali watches the fruit become oil; the harvest also provides material for soap and fuel for baking bread. The family later shares a meal beneath the trees.
This book appears on 3 reading lists across 2 editions from 3 organizations.
