Julie and the Mango Tree

by Sadé Smith, Sayada Ramdial (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Coupled with Sayada Ramdial's bright and colorful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith, is a sweet and fun story that will have readers of all ages giggling and craving a mango of their own!

Coupled with Sayada Ramdial’s bright and colorful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith will have readers of all ages giggling—and craving a mango of their own!

Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack.

But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won’t drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favorite treat?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250806345
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	08/08/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Sadé Smith is a Canadian children's book author of Jamaican descent. Her books often involve food with colorful illustrations to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the Caribbean islands. In addition to writing, Sadé is also a design technologist who loves the beach and enjoys fruits. She is very passionate about literature and she writes books of representation for young readers. She is the author of Granny’s Kitchen and Julie and the Mango Tree.

Sayada Ramdial is a freelance illustrator from Trinidad & Tobago, who’s now living and working in Oregon. Her passion for art started early, and was given direction when she attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she majored in Illustration, minored in Drawing, and graduated with honors. When she’s not experimenting at the drawing board or in the kitchen, she enjoys exploring nature and meeting friendly, furry pets. She is the illustrator of Julie and the Mango Tree.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Julie and the Mango Tree:

"Smith’s story is sweet and infused with joy. Filled with energy and movement, Ramdial’s expressive, vibrant images pop with color ... A mouthwatering reminder that everything is tastier when it’s shared." —Kirkus Reviews

"Julie and the Mango Tree communicates the value of sharing with others and caring for your community. ... The story also portrays the value of patience, when Julie decides to wait until the tree is ready to drop her some fruit. This is a charming book that is sure to leave both kids and parents craving a juicy mango treat, while emphasizing that sharing really is caring." —Quill & Quire

Praise for Granny's Kitchen:

A 2023 Blue Spruce Award Nominee

"Daley transports readers to Smith’s clearly cherished Jamaica with joyous Photoshop illustrations that suit the setting wonderfully in a vibrant tropical palette with bold pops of turquoise and fuschia. This multigenerational homage to home cooking and heritage cuisine serves up a sweet message of confidence-building and can-do assurance." —Booklist

"Delivers the honesty, giggles, and punch ... Daley’s digital illustrations, in eye popping hues of juicy fruit and turquoise sea, convey the easy give-and-take of the close-knit pair, with snazzy-spectacled Granny patiently cheerleading her determined but frustrated granddaughter through some rough culinary challenges. Shelly-Ann’s four recipes are included for foodie families to try together, and a page of fun facts on Jamaica are a bonus for armchair travelers." —BCCB

"Warm and inviting. Daley’s vibrant, highly saturated illustrations bolster the appeal and are sure to entice young readers—and perhaps encourage them to try their own hand in the kitchen. ... A vibrant, upbeat story of a determined girl and her love of food." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2023-06-08
Prepare to crave mangoes.

Julie, a young Jamaican girl, is on a quest to convince her favorite mango tree to share its delicious fruit with her. Papa isn’t here to use his ladder to climb up and pick some. So Julie tries asking the tree, then climbing it. She even attempts a trade: “Four June plums for just one mango.” Nothing works, not even singing to it. Finally, Julie decides on a new approach: gentle encouragement and patience. She gives the sturdy tree a hug and then waits. That evening turns windy, and the next day brings thunder and rain. But Julie discovers the following day that something miraculous has happened. There are now mangoes all over the ground…and in fact, there are too many for Julie to eat by herself. Remembering how sad she felt when she couldn’t reach the mangoes, she decides to share the fruit with the rest of her diverse community. Smith’s story is sweet and infused with joy. Filled with energy and movement, Ramdial’s expressive, vibrant images pop with color, especially in an illustration of Julie biting into a mango dripping with juice. It’s impossible to read this tale and not end up wanting a delicious mango treat—readers will be pleased at the inclusion of recipes for mango smoothies, salad, and juice. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A mouthwatering reminder that everything is tastier when it’s shared. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews