The Big Green

Set in Mali, this story is an example of the massive Great Green Wall project’s work involving eleven countries across sub-Saharan Africa. (There’s more about this after the narrative).

It’s another long, hot day but excitement is in the air in the village where Maryam and Issa live. As it’s far too hot to run about, the siblings make clapping music. Their parents meanwhile make a different kind of music as they work on the parched earth. Suddenly Uncle Cedric drives up with his taxi full of plants. Issa’s question about what the plants are for is met with an unexpected response from Uncle Cedric: ‘Your future,’ he tells them cheerily. It’s a community task to create this future and very soon neighbours arrive to assist, some bringing food and water in buckets on their heads. The children help by carrying seedlings into the shade ready to plant. The adults dig lots of holes into which they place the seedlings; then everybody waters them, continuing working until the very last plant is in damp soil. ‘They all knew they were making a difference to their world.’ So too were the people in other towns and villages. Then comes the waiting … and eventually beneath the trees life began once again.

The final spread shows a somewhat bigger Maryam and Issa walking through green grass beneath spreading trees, enjoying the flora and fauna around, safe in the knowledge that they now have a place to play and a place to look after.

Young listeners will enjoy making the various sounds that are part of the narrative of this upbeat tale. Ken Wilson-Max’s bold, bright illustrations conjure the heat, the vibrant patterned clothes of the villagers and the determined spirit of those involved in the project.

The book ends with a ‘Plant Your Own Tree’ activity to inspire youngsters to emulate Issa and Maryam and make a difference in their own part of the world.