For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking at picture books about family. Our feature pick is Hilwa’s Gifts by Safa Suleiman, illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan. When Ali visits his family in Palestine, he’s excited to visit Hilwa, his favorite tree in their olive grove, but is concerned to see his family hitting the olive trees with sticks. His grandfather assures him they would never hurt the trees, which provide precious gifts. Together, they harvest the olives from Hilwa’s branches and discover the many gifts the fruits yield. A wonderful celebration of tradition and family, this is a book well-suited to discussing family history and traditions.

Check out more books about family below!

At Night, They Danced
Victoria Scott-Miller
Illustrated by Toni D. Chambers
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

Family: A Peek-Through Picture Book
Patricia Hegarty
Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Random House Children’s Books/Doubleday
Available now!

Faruq and the Wiri Wiri: A Celebration of Family and Food
Sophia Payne
Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
Candlewick Press/Templar Books
Available now!

Hilwa’s Gifts
Safa Suleiman
Illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Nearly Exactly Almost Like Me
Jennifer Bradbury
Illustrated by Pearl Auyeung
Candlewick Press/Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!