One day, everything truly changed. People left their homes, trying to carry what they could with them. They carried their memories and the keys to their houses... but they couldn't carry the trees, only their fragrance in their hearts.

Parent and Teacher's Guide

In 1948, Palestine was occupied, and its people sought refuge in different parts of the world. But the people who were forcibly displaced from their cities and villages carried it in their hearts and memories. With each passing day, grandparents remember and tell their grandchildren stories about it, and the dream of return is passed from generation to generation. This book presents a moving humanitarian issue: the occupation of land and the displacement of its people. It symbolically embodies the resistance to occupation and the insistence on survival, personified by the hoopoe, who was determined to keep the orange trees alive by collecting their seeds and scattering them on the ground. It also sheds light on the unique character of 'Ghassan Kanafani,' who left a great impact on the history of Palestinian literature.

For Discussion:

• What does homeland mean to you?
• What does it mean to live in safety?
• How would you feel if someone took your home?
• What do you love most about your country?
• Why did the hoopoe refuse to talk to the tree?
• How did the orange groves bloom?
• Why do we love Palestine?
• What are the most famous holy places in it?
• Where is Al-Aqsa Mosque located?
• Where is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre located?
• Do you know other cities in Palestine?
• Describe your feeling when Ghassan and Lamis returned to the village.
• Do you know Ghassan Kanafani? Have you read 'The Little Lantern'?
• How do we protect our homelands?

The Illustrator: Amani Yousef

Amani Yousef is a Jordanian illustrator specializing in children's books, striving to make books more attractive to encourage children and young adults to read. She holds a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature. She has published many children's stories and books locally and in the Arab world. She has worked on several children's television series, including (Pink Panther and Pals). She has also worked on several story projects with international organizations such as: Sesame Workshop, UNICEF, USAID, and Room to Read.

The Author: Alessandra Amorillo

Alessandra Amorillo is an Italian writer and translator who graduated in Arabic in 2004 and studied the language in Syria and Tunisia. In 2020, she produced a multicultural project titled 'Italian Arabic Kalimat' about the stories of Juha. She is one of the founders of the blog riveArabe and is responsible for the Arab children's literature section.

Weight: 0.430 kg
Dimensions: 28 x 24 cm
Author: Alessandra Amorillo
Illustrator: Amani Yousef
Age: 6+
Number of Pages: 28
Cover: Hardcover