Climbing the Live Oak Tree
Kids Helping Kids Community Fundraiser
Listen as our Louisiana neighbors cry out for help. Ms. George from Southern Louisiana lost her home and then her husband. It’s been 12 weeks since Hurricane Ida, and still NO trailers…Where are they???
Please, listen to the link below to learn their stories and share it to raise awareness. Thank you!.
This is just one of the schools that were devastated by Hurricane Ida! Helping fund renovations will be a vital part of our efforts to help kids and families in Southern Louisianna. Please click on the link to learn more. Thank you!
100 percent of the proceeds from this project will go toward assisting families in Louisiana.
(Collaborative book, work in progress)
PROJECT UPDATE
As a result of the urgency for aid resulting from the destruction of hurricane Ida, I am reaching out to children here in New York. Their assistance will help us finish the book quicker and help us get aid to families in dire need more quickly.
Thank you to everyone who is helping with this project.
7/25/18
Author’s Note:
Climbing the Live Oak Tree was inspired by none other than the remarkable Friendship Oak. The Friendship Oak is a 500-year-old live oak tree on the Gulf Park campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Long Beach just a frisbees toss from the Gulf of Mexico. While volunteering to help rebuild homes after hurricane Katrina, I stumbled across what was left of this magnificent tree after the storm. Upon learning the legend of how it bestowed lifelong friendship to those who shared its shade I was moved to write this story. It is an effort to make sure that this glorious tree's message
of friendship will never be forgotten.
As it turns out the tree didn’t need my help. It miraculously recovered through its own fortitude. It has since suffered some damage, but it continues to be the astounding example of resilience and survival that inspired this story of hope and appreciation for all life.
This special version of the book is the result of an ongoing collaboration between myself and children from communities along the coast of southern Louisiana whose homes are highly venerable to hurricanes and other environmental disasters.
They are graciously sharing their time and talents to illustrate my story. The result will be a charming book of resilience, survival, and appreciation for all life. It will also remind us to be properly prepared for hurricanes and other natural disasters. The book will be available on Amazon and in various locations within the Houma community such as the Ground Pat'i. All proceeds from the book’s sales will go toward supporting families and children in the participating communities.
With Love and Compassion,
Paul Rodriguez
LOVE TO DRAW!?!
Please, join our illustrator team!
If you love to draw and are between the ages of 7 and 13, you could have your artwork included in the children’s book, Climbing the Live Oak Tree.
To become a member of our team, check out the demo book at the top of this page. You will see pages with pictures that have already been finished and pages with just text and the word AVAILABLE in a green box.
Read the text on the AVAILABLE pages.
Find one that you would like to draw a picture of. (One page per artist, please. Regular copy paper 8.5" x 11" vertical.) Check out the Character Sheet above to see what the main characters look like. You don’t have to draw them perfectly. Just do your best and make sure you use the same colors so that the readers can understand the story.
Send me an email with your page choice. As soon as I get your email, I will put a “Page in Progress” note on your page to let others know that it is taken. When you finish, your page will be added to the book and I will notify you when the book is done. All illustrators (that’s you) will receive a free copy of the book.
Thank you in advance for helping to raise money to assist children and families in your community who suffer from natural disasters. And —congratulations on having your artwork published in this amazing children’s book.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The proceeds from this fundraising project are available to all and any members of participating communities along the coast of Louisiana regardless of race, color, religion, or any other human distinction. Anyone can ask for assistance or recommend someone whom they believe can use assistance. Recipients will be chosen based on urgency and need.
To ask for assistance or recommend assistance, please contact:
The project is part of the Project Learn La-Terre community outreach program directed by Natalie Bergeron. The original story Climbing the Live Oak Tree and the book community fundraiser concept were created by Paul Rodriguez of Rodro Books and Education in cooperation with Project Learn La-Terre.