The Boy and the Banyan Tree by Mahtab Narsimhan and Dharmali Patel is a story of a tree and her boy for a new generation.

A boy loves his banyan tree and the banyan tree loves the boy. He climbs her trunk, swings from her roots and sleeps in her shade. They each provide for one another without sacrificing their own needs: a healthy child/tree relationship.

No shade to Shel Silverstein but The Giving Tree is a book that needs to find a place at the back of the bookshelf to make room for this new and improved version of a tree story. I love how Mahtab Narsimhan has taken inspiration from a classic and beloved book and has updated it for a new generation of readers. In this story, the banyan tree does not have to sacrifice herself for the needs of the boy. She doesn’t have to give all of herself just to make him happy. Instead she lovingly guides him to make his own decisions and to help himself when he is in need and in turn the boy knows how to pay it forward.

In a world sometimes constantly filled with hate, this book is a balm of kindness. Through sharing this story with young readers, adults are sharing the message that we need to lift each other up and help each other while also taking care of ourselves in the process.

Dharmali Patel’s illustrations are captivating. When reading I felt transported into the story, much like a cartoon television show. It was so easy to get lost in the world and the words of the story thanks to her inviting character illustrations and sweeping landscapes.