HOMELAND

Three siblings of Palestinian descent listen to their father’s bedtime story about a homeland they’ve never seen.

Their father tells them how, as a child, he visited his grandparents Teta Maria and Sido Abu Michel in the Old City of Jerusalem. He began his day by eating ka’ak, his favorite breakfast, and afterward he went to the family cafe with his Sido. Moushabeck vividly describes the streets of East Jerusalem—the many languages spoken, the “colorful vendors” selling “everything from olive oil soap with rose water and heaping bags of za’atar to gold jewelry and embroidered textiles,” and “the chanting of the muazzin’s call to prayer mixed with the ringing of church bells.” The day ends with Sido releasing the family’s pigeons and telling the young boy they won’t fly off—“This is their home.” The story turns poignant as readers learn this was the last time the children’s father saw Palestine, yet the siblings are filled with hope at the possibility of a return one day. Madooh’s loose, earth-toned illustrations pair well with Moushabeck’s words and capture both the characters’ joy and sadness. The author doesn’t offer much context as to why the family cannot return to their homeland—caregivers or educators may need to fill in some gaps. Still, it’s a stirring tale with details that evoke the senses. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A beautiful tale of family, love for a lost homeland, and remembrance.