Fact Friday: All of a Sudden and Forever: help and healing after the Oklahoma City bombing by Chris Barton

Image: Lerner Publishing

All of a Sudden and Forever: help and healing after the Oklahoma City bombing by Chris Barton. Illustrated by Nicole Xu. 40 p. Carolrhoda Books/ Lerner Publishing Group, February, 2020. 9781541526693. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features All of a Sudden and Forever: help and healing after the Oklahoma City bombing by Chris Barton and illustrated by Nicole Xu. Last Sunday, April 19 marked the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Shortly after 9AM, a truck loaded with explosive material was detonated  killing 168 people, injuring countless more and effectively destroying the building. Improbably, an elm tree survived the blast though it was badly damaged. 

What Chris Barton does in this picture book for everyone is focus not on the bomber or why it occurred, but on what people affected by the blast did to heal and restore hope. They cared for each other and they cared for that elm tree. When the tree seeded, they gathered the seeds and cared for the seedlings. They gifted some of the seedlings and saved some. A memorial to the victims was opened in April of 2000 and many seedlings of what was dubbed, "The Survivor Tree" are growing and thriving on the site. 

Barton's spare language and effective use of repetition instructs and reassures. Nicole Xu's muted illustrations are equally spare yet beautiful. Back matter includes notes from both the author and illustrator, survivor interviews and a bibliography. All of a Sudden and Forever is the book you need - an important addition to any library collection.

Picture Book Review: All of a Sudden and Forever: help and healing after the Oklahoma City bombing by Chris Barton

Image: Lerner Publishing

All of a Sudden and Forever: help and healing after the Oklahoma City bombing by Chris Barton. Illustrated by Nicole Xu. unpgd. Carolrhoda Books/ Lerner Publishing, February 4, 2020. 9781541526693. (Review of finished book courtesy of publisher @ SLJ Leadership Summit.)

I am at a bit of a loss about how to review this profound, beautiful and necessary book. April 19, 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, well past the age of the target audience of this book. Unfortunately, in those twenty-five years, there have been many mass shootings and thus, the need to explain these tragedies to young people. Barton channels Mr. Rogers, explaining the events of that fateful day and its aftermath simply and sparely. The dark and somber illustrations add gravity without overwhelming. 

There are no gory details; just a focus on recovery, healing and hope. The tree that survived the blast is a powerful symbol of resiliency. The practice of gathering seedlings to nurture, plant and pass on to those who have experienced trauma is just beautiful. 

Author and illustrator notes follow the text and include photos of the tree immediately after the bombing and after recovery. Mini-biographies of twelve people affected directly or indirectly follows and a list of recommended reading and three websites end the back matter. 

All of a Sudden and Forever ought to be in every library - on hand for the right time to share with young readers who need help confronting tragedy.