UPSIDE-DOWN IFTAR

Malak and her grandmother observe Ramadan by cooking a cherished meal together.

This Ramadan, neither Malak nor her Teta will be fasting—Malak’s too young, and Teta’s on a new medication. So they decide to find another way to make the holy month special. Malak asks her grandmother to show her how to prepare iftar, the meal eaten to break the fast each evening. But what to cook? Their Palestinian family’s favorite meal—makloubeh! The dish contains layers of meat, rice, and fried vegetables, but everyone prefers a different kind. Malak’s grandfather likes eggplant makloubeh best, while her mom’s favorite is cauliflower. As the ingredient list grows, Malak worries: “What if everything doesn’t go together?” But, as Teta points out, “Every makloubeh is unique…Just like each family.” Soon, the meal is nearly ready, and Malak’s uncle places a tray over the simmering pot and, per tradition, flips it upside down before serving it (indeed, makloubeh is Arabic for “upside down”). While many children’s stories about Ramadan emphasize fasting, this charming tale, rooted in the author’s own experiences, notably shifts focus to the iftar. Issa’s cozy, digital illustrations exude familial warmth and feature deeply meaningful threads of cultural identity such as the traditional Palestinian thobe, keffiyeh, olives, and keys hanging on the wall, symbolizing the right of return.

A vibrant, soulful feast of tradition, identity, and love.