The Forgiveness Garden
Inspired by the real Garden of Forgiveness that was built in Beirut after the Lebanese Civil War that ended in 1990, this parable tells of two neighboring villages that have long been in conflict with each other. The striking collage artwork in muted tones shows silhouetted figures hurling stones at their neighbors across a river. Then the story’s focus narrows to two young people. A boy, Karune, hurls a stone that hits Sama, a girl across the water, hard on the head, and she falls to the ground. The incident sparks both communities to call for revenge, and the hatred grows. But after Sama’s people capture Karune and tell her to throw a stone at him, she refuses. Let us build a garden, she says, and people from both sides agree, even Karune. A final scene shows the young people together in the blossoming garden. The purposeful messages are balanced by the personal story that shows how difficult it can be to create peace, and the afterword will help kids connect news headlines with their own schoolyard standoffs. Grades K-3. --Hazel Rochman