THE MAGNIFICENT BANYAN AND THE GREEN TONG LAU written by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illustrated Ishita Jain

Writer Stephanie Ellen Sy and illustrator Ishita Jain both grew up under banyan trees. Their respect is clear in words and images in THE MAGNIFICENT BANYAN AND THE GREEN TONG LAU. When a small bird drops a seed into a crack in a green tong lau (a tenement building) there sprouts roots down, shoots up until a gigantic banyan tree grows to the joy of playing children who cavort and observe the nature around them while the elders complain that it’s a nuisance. When, in the midst of a typhoon, the banyan “stood strong, wrapping its branches around the green tong lau” and “tamed the typhoon’s fury” to all the grateful inhabitants. Find out more in the Purchase link below.