As I look outside at all the snow covered trees, I am thinking about one of my favorite holidays, Tu B'Shevat, or birthday for the trees, which occurs tomorrow on the 15 of Shevat.
Tu B'Shevat, a holiday celebrated in the Jewish religion, started as a way to track fruit for tax purposes, but has since turned into a celebration steeped in spirituality and ecological thinking. People who honor this holiday do so by eating 15 different types of fruit, drinking four glasses of wine or grape juice, singing songs and telling stories. Here's a list of tree-based stories, good for any age, to help celebrate Tu B'Shevat:
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is the iconic book that inspired several of the environmental laws we have today.
Fruit Trees in Small Spaces by Colby Eirman helps urban farmers decide which fruit tree to grow and how to care for it. There is also a section at the back with fruit-based recipes.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a story about a tree who loves a boy to the point of giving away its entire being and is a good starting point for conversations about all the different ways people use trees.
The Lorax is Dr. Seuss's cautionary tale about how bad the environment can get if no one cares and is a good starting point for conversations about people's impact on Mother Earth.
A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry is a great story to help the very young learn about all the different ways a tree is valuable.
Although Chicago is currently buried under snow, we should all take the time tomorrow to say "Thank You" and "Happy Birthday" to a tree!
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