AWARDS and RECOGNITIONSSociety of Illustrators, The Original Art Annual Exhibition (2005)
ReadBoston, Best Read Aloud Book, runner-up (2005)
Green Earth Book Award, Honorable Mention, Children's Books (2006)
Skipping Stones Magazine, Skipping Stones Honor Award (2006)
Bank Street College, Best Children's Books of the Year (2006)
Peace Corps Writers Association, Best Children's Writing (2006) REVIEWSBulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The gentle story and vivid visuals . . . make this book a solid candidate for inclusion in storytimes about growth or hope. Recommended." Kirkus Reviews
"A story of sibling love and responsibility, written without didacticism or sentimentalism." Publishers Weekly
"In this hopeful, gentle account, Williams frames the tale of a Haitian boy's struggle to keep a tree alive against the larger story of his country's struggle against poverty. . . . This uplifting tale suggests that one child can make a difference -- a powerful message for readers." School Library Journal
"This heartfelt story is supplemented by a glossary of Creole words and an author's note explaining the Haitian custom of planting a fruit tree at the birth of a child. The vibrant charcoal-and-pastel full-spread illustrations are rich with color and add an exotic, dreamlike quality to the story. . . [A] hopeful tale of family unity."