UNDER THE MANGO TREE

A picture book about two close pals who celebrate their precious time together.

Vee and Sanaa are best friends who often play under a neighborhood mango tree and enjoy juicy mangos: “ ‘Under the mango tree, we will always be,’ the girls promised.” Truly carefree and joyful, the young girls share secrets, watch ants climb and “blackbirds squabble,” and make up stories about the animals they see in clouds’ shapes. One afternoon, Vee tells Sanaa that her family’s moving; under the mango tree, they promise “to keep each other forever in their hearts.” Later, Sanaa misses all the things she and Vee did together, but one day, she notices a heart they carved into the tree with their names inside and recalls the promise. Mark crafts a heartwarming tale of friendship and strong bonds, and her use of vivid, active language amplifies the powerful, enduring friendship at the heart of the narrative: “They swung so much they would often soar to the skies, get dizzy, and CRASH into the grass below, exploding into fits of laughter.” Cloud’s colorful cartoon illustrations effectively augment the pastoral scenes; the girls have bright, brown eyes filled with wonder. Vee and Sanaa and their mothers are all portrayed as Black, with varying skin tones.

A touching tale of an enduring friendship.