Pavel and the Tree Army by Heidi Smith Hyde

Pavel and the Tree Army Reviews

• 
  Lisa Vegan

  I was most touched by the last page. It’s the author’s note that gives additional information about the Depression era Civilian Conservation Corps, and it pays particular attention to the Jewish immigrant men who participated.
  
  I also enjoyed the historical fiction story. I think it gave a good feel for the Great Depression, the Conservation Corps program, and the immigrant experience. I appreciated how it fit in the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner and a Fourth of July Celebration at the end of the story. Pavel and a friend come from Russia and go via New York City to Idaho in order to work, and to “make America beautiful” and to provide for themselves and their families during the Great Depression.
  
  I liked a lot about the illustrations but had one main complaint and one minor one. The latter is that I don’t think this group of workers had been at the site in Idaho long enough for trees they’d planted to be so tall by Independence Day. When they first arrived the land in their vicinity looked as though it had no trees. My major problem, and I noticed it most on the cover, is for me there is something scary (horror story like) about the way people’s eyes are depicted. I noticed it a bit less as I read the story because I was able to focus on the story and there were detailed illustrations on most pages and I could concentrate on other parts of the pictures, but when I looked at people’s eyes they gave me the creeps. (probably just me?)
  
  Overall, this is an uplifting and inspiring story, but bigotry against (and acceptance of) immigrants plays a role and the prejudice shown is upsetting. I would be happy to read this to the youngest children and answer any questions they have or offer explanations in an age appropriate way, but some adults might want to screen this book before sharing it with young children. Intolerance of and dislike of immigrants is unfortunately a topical and relevant subject and this book could be used as a springboard for discussion with school-aged children.
  
  3-1/2 stars
• 
  Barb H

  Pavel and Anatoly are new immigrants to America during the Depression Era. Eager to adapt to their new country and to provide sustenance for their families they gained positions with FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps. They engaged in the strenuous toil along side citizens and other newcomers around the countryside.
  
  Hyde has narrated the trials and joys for these two men in a clear and entertaining manner for young readers. It is good to view this introduction to this historical period . Also it is beautifully illustrated by Vavouri.
  
  The book concludes with an historical note on this period.
• 
  Abigail

  Newly arrived in America and desperate to find work to feed his family during the Great Depression, Pavel jumps at the chance to join the newly formed Civilian Conservation Corps. Together with Anatoly, another Russian Jewish immigrant, he finds himself in Idaho, planting trees. Although some of the other men in the Corps resist accepting them as Americans, Pavel and Anatoly do the best they can, learning new skills, and, together with fellow immigrant Giovanni, newly arrived from Italy, they learn the Star Spangled Banner. When the Fourth of July arrives, the new Americans are able to join with their fellows, in singing the national anthem, and Pavel realizes that he truly is a part of this great nation...
  
  I liked almost everything about Pavel and the Tree Army, from its engaging story from author Heidi Smith Hyde, to its appealing artwork from illustrator Elisa Vavouri. As someone who participated in my own county's "Youth Conservation Corps" as an adolescent - it was a paid summer job, involving working in the county parks, clearing trails, building boardwalks, and taking educational field trips of an ecological nature - I have always greatly admired the Civilian Conservation Corps that FDR created during the dark days of the Great Depression. As a result, it was good to read a children's story about that subject. I also appreciated the narrative about being a newly arrived immigrant, and gaining a sense of investment and belonging through contributing to one's adopted country, as I sometimes feel that the opposite narrative and idea - that the adopted country owes one something - is the one I hear from many people today. The artwork is colorful and expressive, and ably complements the story, and a historical afterword gives more information about Jewish immigrants who participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
  
  In short, I really enjoyed this one, and it might have been another four-star title for me, like Heide's
  Shanghai Sukkah, which I read earlier this year, and found excellent. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was somewhat soured by the regional stereotypes deployed by the author in her telling, and although this didn't ruin the story for me, it was certainly disturbing enough that I had to deduct a star. No one paying attention to the current state of American culture and politics can be blind to the increasing prejudice brought to bear against people from whole swathes of the country by their fellow citizens, either because they are "deplorables" from the south or the midwest, or the "elites" from the coasts and cities. The harm that this is doing to us simply cannot be overstated. I am just so sick of this canard, which I see embraced more and more by the people around me in the northeast, where I currently live, that their fellow citizens from these other regions are more prejudiced than they. I realize it may not have been Heide's intent (in fact, I suspect it was largely subconscious), but I had to wince, and then sigh in frustration, when the prejudiced bullies hail from places like Oklahoma and Louisiana, while the upstanding Homer of Maine is more accepting and kind. Give me patience!!! This is a minor point, and many might not even catch on to it, put it was sufficiently obnoxious that I deducted a star.
  
  I still recommend Pavel and the Tree Army, as it has many excellent qualities, and I acknowledge that this one disturbing element, all by itself, is not so important. It's more that it partakes of a larger trend that is important, that captured my attention.
• 
  Tracy Kulwicki

  This book highlights some of the challenges that immigrant families faced during the Great Depression. In addition to the financial struggles that the entire nation struggled with, immigrants were often bullied and looked down upon, even when they were legally Americans. In the story, children will see how immigrants worked hard to support themselves, learn new things, and overcome adversity.
  
  The book held the interest of both of my children (ages 6 and 9) and they asked to read it several times. I loved that the book helps to teach kids about our history as a nation, but also helps children to develop empathy for immigrant families. The book shows how bullies can hurt others but also how people who are bullied can overcome. It also gives a peek into different cultural practices to celebrate the diversity all around us.
  
  I received a copy of this book from Kar-Ben publishing. #readyourworld
• 
  Maya

  While this book has its merits in sharing folks' early experiences in the Depression era Civilian Conservation Corps (can we get this back, please?), it wouldn't be my first choice to read with children because the book is almost exclusively male and what we now consider white. (I realize at the time this book takes place that racial categorizations differed in the United States for Jews and Italians, who make up some of the book's characters).
  
  Read instead these excellent offerings:
  - "The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng" by Sophia Gholz
  - "111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl" by Rina Singh
  - "Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa" by Jeanette Winter
  - "Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya," Donna Jo Napoli
• 
  Jenny Patterson

  I felt related to this book. Same as Pavel, I was not born here in America. I am originally from Colombia. Same as Pavel, I struggled to read, write and talk in English. Same as Pavel, some people told me multiple times to go back to my country because I was not an American. In the end, same as Pavel, with time, practice, and a lot of studies I have overcome to make this my home too. This is a really good book that reminds people that is not from America that It is not easy, but it is possible.
• 
  Allison Turkish

  Very nice book although the eyebrows in the illustrations made some of the characters look sinister when I do not think that was intended.
  
  I appreciate most the lesson that children can learn from reading this book: Just like the trees that were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Jewish immigrants belong in America:
  "It will take time for the saplings you planted to take root, but they are now part of this land. And so are you."
• 
  Laura

  A wonderful lesson about the history of America and what being an American really means.
• 
  Holly

  As soon as I saw there was a picture book about the CCC, I had to read it. I loved it!
• 
  Kelly

  Interesting story. I think children will really like it.
• 
  Rebecca Caufman

  Historical fiction story about a Russian immigrant who joins the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression and learns what it means to plant roots in America.
• 
  Kay

  Pavel is a new immigrant in America. Joining both other immigrants and American born men in the Civilian Conservation Corps, Pavel has the chance to literally plant his American roots across the country.
  When Pavel (a Russian Jew) faces bullying from Otis from Oklahoma "Your not real Americans," he is greeted with help and support from Homer from Maine, who teaches him, Anatoly, and Giovanni an immigrant from Italy, the Star-Spangled Banner.
  
  I loved the feeling of brotherhood and partnership throughout Pavel and the Tree Army. I especially loved that their response to the difficulties of learning new things was "we will learn." That's the real spirit of immigrants, and I think this book captures that perfectly.
  
  I got to read a copy of this book distributed by P.J. Library. I loved that the back flap has instructions on how to make welcome cards to new neighbors and that the author's note was a historical blerb on the Civilian Conservation Corps.
  I was surprised though that the lyrics to the Star-Spangled Banner were not included at the end.
  
  Art was nice, but the faces were a little homogeneous and hard to tell apart.