An affectionate, amusing tale that serves as a sweet introduction to a Muslim observance.
In this illustrated children’s book, a boy’s prank leads to a better understanding of the true spirit of Ramadan.
In Lahore, Pakistan, 8-year-old Raza lives in a multigenerational family house. During Ramadan, which involves fasting during the day, adults eat a special pre-dawn breakfast called sehri that includes delicious parathas, made of hot and flaky fried dough. Raza loves these, but he must wait for his own later breakfast because young children aren’t expected to fast like adults do. Early one morning, he smells wonderful aromas from the kitchen and decides that he just has to have some sehri for himself. He sneaks out of his bedroom, climbs to the flat roof, and bellows down the chimney in his deepest voice to Amina, the maid: “I want you to make some parathas for me!” Frightened, Amina believes that a supernatural jinni is on the roof and runs to Raza’s grandmother, his “Nani.” She soon sees through her grandson’s prank, and although he does get some parathas, he’s also scolded for deceiving and frightening Amina and given a task to make it up to her. Raza realizes that his Nani is right to do this: “How would he be able to fast in the future if he could not even wait for breakfast?” The next year, Raza keeps his first fast, which his family celebrates by giving him money and presents. The book includes an author’s note on Ramadan, a glossary, and a recipe for parathas (which notes that an adult should fry them). In her debut book, Rafi tells a warmhearted, amusing story about growing up in one’s faith. The character of Nani handles Raza’s mischief well; she goes along with the prank to a certain extent, and he’s allowed to have his parathas, but he doesn’t get away with mistreating Amina, who forgives him and tells him stories about jinn. As a result, the boy is allowed to be boyish while still being gently guided toward his greater responsibility as a Muslim. Illustrator Channa’s rounded shapes and soft colors add to the book’s welcoming feel, including nice touches, such as an adorable orange kitten in the background who also gets into some mischief.
An affectionate, amusing tale that serves as a sweet introduction to a Muslim observance.Pub Date: July 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9888649-0-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Pamir
Review Posted Online: April 22, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The seemingly ageless Seeger brings back his renowned giant for another go in a tuneful tale that, like the art, is a bit sketchy, but chockful of worthy messages. Faced with yearly floods and droughts since they’ve cut down all their trees, the townsfolk decide to build a dam—but the project is stymied by a boulder that is too huge to move. Call on Abiyoyo, suggests the granddaughter of the man with the magic wand, then just “Zoop Zoop” him away again. But the rock that Abiyoyo obligingly flings aside smashes the wand. How to avoid Abiyoyo’s destruction now? Sing the monster to sleep, then make it a peaceful, tree-planting member of the community, of course. Seeger sums it up in a postscript: “every community must learn to manage its giants.” Hays, who illustrated the original (1986), creates colorful, if unfinished-looking, scenes featuring a notably multicultural human cast and a towering Cubist fantasy of a giant. The song, based on a Xhosa lullaby, still has that hard-to-resist sing-along potential, and the themes of waging peace, collective action, and the benefits of sound ecological practices are presented in ways that children will both appreciate and enjoy. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-689-83271-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2001
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