THE ROSE BUSH

Conflict divides neighbors in Chenoy’s debut picture book.

The story follows two families who “were very different. They had different gods. They ate different foods. They dressed differently. Even their pets were very different” (one family has a cat, the other, a dog). Despite these differences, they discover shared interests through games like football and hide-and-seek, but the greatest connection between them is a beautiful rose bush that the families care for together. One day, an unspecified argument causes the two sets of parents to turn on each other (to the confusion and dismay of their children), and the families erect a barbed-wire fence between their properties. Both families neglect the rose bush, which begins to shrivel up and die. This deterioration catches the attention of the pets, who decide to tear down “the wretched barbed wire” that has only encouraged more animosity. With no barrier standing between them, the families are able to reconcile, and to nurse the rose bush back to life. Chenoy’s simple story convincingly gets across a timely message of empathy, cooperation, and the value of finding common ground, making it a helpful asset for parents wishing to teach these traits. Katiyar’s stylishly minimalist digital illustrations are simple yet striking, mainly rendered in black and white with symbolic pops of color (especially red) that highlight the narrative’s important moments.

A straightforward and relevant anti-division story that one hopes will inspire young readers.