Where They Gather

Where They Gather
Co-Authors / Illustrators
Age Range
4+
Release Date
February 28, 2026
ISBN
978-1665957816
Buy This Book
     
As a tree grows, so too does a strong and loving Black family over generations in this gorgeous and lyrical picture book spanning centuries of persistence and hope.

Roots take hold and settle in,
creeping far and free.
They stake their claim in barren ground—
a dream of what will be.
Here, they hope together.

A newly freed Black couple plant a pecan tree. The tree grows alongside each new generation of their family, weathering various seasons of change from the Jim Crow era to the Civil Rights period and into present day. Through difficult winters and the promise of spring, the tree continues to rise, mirroring the strength, resilience, and celebration of the family throughout time.

Editor review

1 review
Strength and Resilience
(Updated: June 15, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Where They Gather is a powerful story of one family across generations that connects all races and cultures.

The beautiful crafted rhyming scheme makes for a great read aloud.
This is an inspiring account of one family's fight for the right to live after the abolishment of slavery in the US. Inspired by the author's own family, we see not only the love and celebration, but also the hard work and toil that the family has gone through.
There's a touching author's note at the end that adds more to this powerful story, and why Rodrigues was the perfect author for this tale. Bonus, she included her grandmother's pecan pie recipe and photographs that helped inspire her story.

The artist visually captures the rhymes emotion, providing beautiful and inspiring illustrations.

Where They Gather is a must have picture book for every child, school, and public library
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

There are no user reviews for this listing.
Already have an account? or Create an account