One of the greatest pains of tragedy is that after a while, no one talks about it, as if it were history. In The Oak Tree, written by J. Steven Spires and illustrated by Jonathan Caron, the reader is given the opportunity to revisit the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast 10 years ago. Although this is not a light-hearted tale, The Oak Tree is a good starting point for discussions on natural disasters and the strength and resilience that comes from such events.

The Oak Tree offers a fresh take on the tragedy, telling the story from the perspective of an old oak tree, the centerpiece of a family’s front yard. 

The wonderful illustrations by Caron, who is only 18 years old, bring the story and the tree to life. The tree has a warm, expressive face, and it’s smiling when the day begins. But soon the wind picks up and the father and son nail boards to the windows. To the tree’s dismay, the family packs up their station wagon. Just before driving away, two of the children hug the tree and promise to be back soon. The tree begins to worry, as the rain pours down and the water rises. Branches break, the tree’s roots loosen, and still the water rises. At some point, only the eyes of the tree are above water, and the tree watches the rescue boats float by. Weeks and weeks go by and finally the family returns.