The big green A story about the Great Green Wall of Africa

On a "long, hot day/ at the edge of the desert," two children and their community plant trees in an earnest picture book that highlights efforts to create an uninterrupted swath of greenery, per back matter planned to stretch across 11 African countries. Broad stroked, flatly applied primary and secondary colors rendered in pencil, gouache, and digital techniques establish the sandy surrounds in which the foregrounded figures undertake their efforts. Plainspoken second-person narration speeds through the process, from digging holes to watering the plants, ascribing feelings of purpose and pride to participants: "They all knew they were making a difference to their world." Closing spreads zoom forward as emerald smudges visualize the "bright future" planted by the community and the "laughter... food... safety" it offers. The result makes for a compelling call for greenification. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)

In a nod to one of our planet's largest reclamation projects, two African children help their parents and neighbors plant trees on the edge of a desert. Wilson-Max saves a more detailed look at the ongoing Great Green Wall initiative, which involves 11 countries along the southern reaches of the Sahara, for his afterword. The main part of the book provides a local perspective on the massive amount of work that has been and will need to be done to stop the desert's advance. At first, Little Maryam and Issa only know that something exciting is about to happen outside their unnamed village. When Uncle Cedric arrives with a truckful of seedlings, Issa asks, "What are those plants?" "Your future," his uncle replies. Indeed, after much digging and watering, done to rhythmic songs and cheers, everyone understands that "they [are] making a difference to their world." In a final scene, the children, a little bigger now, walk in tall green grass beneath spreading trees, admiring flowers and butterflies and aware that they have a place both to look after and to play in. "There was laughter. There was food. There was safety." The art is as bright and simple as the ideas expressed, and for readers inspired to make a difference in their own worlds, the author closes with directions for planting a tree. A bright promise, founded on hope and local support. (map)(Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.