Background Information

 Because our story this week takes place in a desert, water is scarce and very precious.  The town has just gotten a new pump that will bring water to the people during a drought.

 Fatima is our main character. She lives in the village with her family and she is very excited about the new pump.  Fatima becomes confused when she learns that not everyone feels the same.

 Another important element of our story is the baobab tree.

 Thanks to Disney, we know the baobab tree as the “Tree of Life” from the Animal Kingdom.

 The African baobab tree is also called the "tree of life" as it can store water during the drought season which is sometimes vital to the rural population.  Large baobab trees could contain more than 30,000 gallons of water, and to get to it, Kalahari bushmen use hollow pieces of grass like a straw to suck the water out.

 Because of their size, people have been storing supplies in old hollow trunks or have been living inside a Baobab Tree.  Natural medicine uses the bark of the Baobab to lower fevers, chewing a leaf, you apparently ingest some of the tartar powder that helps with stomach aches.  Rafiki (the baboon) from "The Lion King" lives in a Baobab Tree.

 Good readers think about what they have read and think about what they know from their own experiences to understand what the author is trying to say.  As you read about Fatima and the baobab tree, think about how different her life and neighborhood is from yours.

 It will also be important to understand Grandmother’s point-of-view about the progress the pump provides the village.  If you can see it from her eyes, you will understand why she is unwilling to change and accept the new pump.

 Finally, after you read, think about what lesson the author was teaching you by telling this story.  What did the village learn?  What did Fatima learn?  How were the characters different at the end of the story?  These questions will give you help in understanding what you were to learn from this story.