Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Minneapolis, MN : Kar-Ben Publishing, [2019]
Description
As they plant trees and do other environmental projects for the Civilian Conservation Corps, Russian immigrants Pavel and Anatoly are happy to find employment during the Great Depression, but when other workers accuse them of not being "real Americans," Pavel and Anatoly learn the words to the Star Spangled Banner, newly designated by Congress as the national anthem.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Newly arrived in America and desperate to find work to feed his family during the Great Depression, Pavel jumps at the chance to join the newly formed Civilian Conservation Corps. Together with Anatoly, another Russian Jewish immigrant, he finds himself in Idaho, planting trees. Although some of
I liked almost everything about Pavel and the Tree Army, from its engaging story from author Heidi Smith Hyde, to its appealing artwork from illustrator Elisa Vavouri. As someone who participated in my own county's "Youth Conservation Corps" as an adolescent - it was a paid summer job, involving working in the county parks, clearing trails, building boardwalks, and taking educational field trips of an ecological nature - I have always greatly admired the Civilian Conservation Corps that FDR created during the dark days of the Great Depression. As a result, it was good to read a children's story about that subject. I also appreciated the narrative about being a newly arrived immigrant, and gaining a sense of investment and belonging through contributing to one's adopted country, as I sometimes feel that the opposite narrative and idea - that the adopted country owes one something - is the one I hear from many people today. The artwork is colorful and expressive, and ably complements the story, and a historical afterword gives more information about Jewish immigrants who participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In short, I really enjoyed this one, and it might have been another four-star title for me, like Heide's Shanghai Sukkah, which I read earlier this year, and found excellent. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was somewhat soured by the regional stereotypes deployed by the author in her telling, and although this didn't ruin the story for me, it was certainly disturbing enough that I had to deduct a star. No one paying attention to the current state of American culture and politics can be blind to the increasing prejudice brought to bear against people from whole swathes of the country by their fellow citizens, either because they are "deplorables" from the south or the midwest, or the "elites" from the coasts and cities. The harm that this is doing to us simply cannot be overstated. I am just so sick of this canard, which I see embraced more and more by the people around me in the northeast, where I currently live, that their fellow citizens from these other regions are more prejudiced than they. I realize it may not have been Heide's intent (in fact, I suspect it was largely subconscious), but I had to wince, and then sigh in frustration, when the prejudiced bullies hail from places like Oklahoma and Louisiana, while the upstanding Homer of Maine is more accepting and kind. Give me patience!!! This is a minor point, and many might not even catch on to it, put it was sufficiently obnoxious that I deducted a star.
I still recommend Pavel and the Tree Army, as it has many excellent qualities, and I acknowledge that this one disturbing element, all by itself, is not so important. It's more that it partakes of a larger trend that is important, that captured my attention.
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the other men in the Corps resist accepting them as Americans, Pavel and Anatoly do the best they can, learning new skills, and, together with fellow immigrant Giovanni, newly arrived from Italy, they learn the Star Spangled Banner. When the Fourth of July arrives, the new Americans are able to join with their fellows, in singing the national anthem, and Pavel realizes that he truly is a part of this great nation...I liked almost everything about Pavel and the Tree Army, from its engaging story from author Heidi Smith Hyde, to its appealing artwork from illustrator Elisa Vavouri. As someone who participated in my own county's "Youth Conservation Corps" as an adolescent - it was a paid summer job, involving working in the county parks, clearing trails, building boardwalks, and taking educational field trips of an ecological nature - I have always greatly admired the Civilian Conservation Corps that FDR created during the dark days of the Great Depression. As a result, it was good to read a children's story about that subject. I also appreciated the narrative about being a newly arrived immigrant, and gaining a sense of investment and belonging through contributing to one's adopted country, as I sometimes feel that the opposite narrative and idea - that the adopted country owes one something - is the one I hear from many people today. The artwork is colorful and expressive, and ably complements the story, and a historical afterword gives more information about Jewish immigrants who participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In short, I really enjoyed this one, and it might have been another four-star title for me, like Heide's Shanghai Sukkah, which I read earlier this year, and found excellent. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was somewhat soured by the regional stereotypes deployed by the author in her telling, and although this didn't ruin the story for me, it was certainly disturbing enough that I had to deduct a star. No one paying attention to the current state of American culture and politics can be blind to the increasing prejudice brought to bear against people from whole swathes of the country by their fellow citizens, either because they are "deplorables" from the south or the midwest, or the "elites" from the coasts and cities. The harm that this is doing to us simply cannot be overstated. I am just so sick of this canard, which I see embraced more and more by the people around me in the northeast, where I currently live, that their fellow citizens from these other regions are more prejudiced than they. I realize it may not have been Heide's intent (in fact, I suspect it was largely subconscious), but I had to wince, and then sigh in frustration, when the prejudiced bullies hail from places like Oklahoma and Louisiana, while the upstanding Homer of Maine is more accepting and kind. Give me patience!!! This is a minor point, and many might not even catch on to it, put it was sufficiently obnoxious that I deducted a star.
I still recommend Pavel and the Tree Army, as it has many excellent qualities, and I acknowledge that this one disturbing element, all by itself, is not so important. It's more that it partakes of a larger trend that is important, that captured my attention.
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LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I was most touched by the last page. It’s the author’s note that gives additional information about the Depression era Civilian Conservation Corps, and it pays particular attention to the Jewish immigrant men who participated.
I also enjoyed the historical fiction story. I think it gave a good
I liked a lot about the illustrations but had one main complaint and one minor one. The latter is that I don’t think this group of workers had been at the site in Idaho long enough for trees they’d planted to be so tall by Independence Day. When they first arrived the land in their vicinity looked as though it had no trees. My major problem, and I noticed it most on the cover, is for me there is something scary (horror story like) about the way people’s eyes are depicted. I noticed it a bit less as I read the story because I was able to focus on the story and there were detailed illustrations on most pages and I could concentrate on other parts of the pictures, but when I looked at people’s eyes they gave me the creeps. (probably just me?)
Overall, this is an uplifting and inspiring story, but bigotry against (and acceptance of) immigrants plays a role and the prejudice shown is upsetting. I would be happy to read this to the youngest children and answer any questions they have or offer explanations in an age appropriate way, but some adults might want to screen this book before sharing it with young children. Intolerance of and dislike of immigrants is unfortunately a topical and relevant subject and this book could be used as a springboard for discussion with school-aged children.
3-1/2 stars
I also enjoyed the historical fiction story. I think it gave a good
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feel for the Great Depression, the Conservation Corps program, and the immigrant experience. I appreciated how it fit in the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner and a Fourth of July Celebration at the end of the story. Pavel and a friend come from Russia and go via New York City to Idaho in order to work, and to “make America beautiful” and to provide for themselves and their families during the Great Depression.I liked a lot about the illustrations but had one main complaint and one minor one. The latter is that I don’t think this group of workers had been at the site in Idaho long enough for trees they’d planted to be so tall by Independence Day. When they first arrived the land in their vicinity looked as though it had no trees. My major problem, and I noticed it most on the cover, is for me there is something scary (horror story like) about the way people’s eyes are depicted. I noticed it a bit less as I read the story because I was able to focus on the story and there were detailed illustrations on most pages and I could concentrate on other parts of the pictures, but when I looked at people’s eyes they gave me the creeps. (probably just me?)
Overall, this is an uplifting and inspiring story, but bigotry against (and acceptance of) immigrants plays a role and the prejudice shown is upsetting. I would be happy to read this to the youngest children and answer any questions they have or offer explanations in an age appropriate way, but some adults might want to screen this book before sharing it with young children. Intolerance of and dislike of immigrants is unfortunately a topical and relevant subject and this book could be used as a springboard for discussion with school-aged children.
3-1/2 stars
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Awards
Language
Physical description
29 cm
ISBN
9781512444469