Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures
Springstubb, Tricia. Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures. Illus. by Elaheh Taherian. 2020. 32p. Candlewick Press, $16.99 (USD)/$22.76 (CAD). (9781536203066). PreS-Gr 1.
This gentle and heart-warming story explores an intergenerational friendship and the power of words. Khalil moves to the upper floor of a house with his loud and busy family, while Mr. Hagerty, an older white man, lives on the floor below. During the summer, Khalil and Mr. Hagerty spend time in the backyard – Khalil searching for bugs, rocks, and other treasures while Mr. Hagerty works in his garden. They bond, as Mr. Hagerty helps Khalil read his library books and Khalil helps him remember the names of things he’s forgotten i.e. what his “digging thing, [his] hole-maker” is called. One day, when things don’t go as planned, they take a break over “chocolate cake and tall, cold glasses of milk.” That night, over their respective dinners, they each come up with an idea to brighten the others’ day. The clever and sweet ending is a perfect way to portray a growing friendship and sharing the simple pleasures of life.
Taherian’s playful collage-style illustrations portray the juxtaposition of the two households. For example, in one spread Khalil and family can be seen through the upper window; their curtains with bright and bold patterns, texture, and colors conveying their liveliness, whereas in the lower window Mr. Hagerty sits alone, reading—his curtains simple and monochrome. Springstubb’s simple text pairs well with Taherian’s illustrations, both working to highlight the purity and simplicity of the relationship.
While Khalil and his family are not identified as Muslims and there is no reference in the text or visuals to Islam, the name Khalil, meaning “friend” in Arabic is a possible indication that the family is Muslim. In this interview, the author explains that this book was inspired by an Iraqi refugee family. Khalil’s character is modeled after the eldest boy in that family. Mr. Hagerty’s character is based on her own grandfather, who was Irish-American.The book is also dedicated to the “real” Khalil and his three younger brothers.
