Age range 5 to 12 years

The house next door to Sameer's had been empty for as long as he could remember. The family had
gone away when the war began. But now they were back, and he was ready to have fun with his
new playmate.
Together they could climb the big olive tree that overlooked both their gardens, and eat the
delicious olives it produced. The only problem was that Muna, the little girl next door, didn't want
to play and she didn't want to share the olives. She said they belonged to her family alone-that is,
until one fateful night when lightning struck the tree.
Poignantly told by award-winning author Elsa Marston and with beautiful paintings from awardwinning
illustrator Claire Ewart, The Olive Tree follows two children as they learn to share and
work together by looking past their differences. It shows young readers that compassion and
understanding lie at the heart of all friendships.