A perfectly baked blend of lyrical writing, stunning art, and much-needed Mizrahi Jewish representation.
A young girl in Tripoli cooks up a solution to a baking problem.
Misah loves preparing challah with her mother, who sings special wishes and prayers for their family—including her unborn child—as she kneads and stretches the dough. Like most families in their Jewish community, they bring their unbaked loaves to a communal oven. Unfortunately, Hassan the baker often mixes up the challahs. One day, while watching women embroider, Misah has a realization. Just as each woman stitches a special pattern, each family could shape and decorate their challah in a unique way. In a concluding note, Hadad Siegel explains that family challah designs are a real tradition passed down to her own family; she also provides ideas for readers who want to design their own. Her story offers much-needed representation of Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African) Jewish customs and culture. Hadad Siegel brings to life the experiences of long-ago Libyan Jewish women with vivid sensory details: the “clink, plink, tink” of their golden bracelets, the birdsong-like beauty of their songs and prayers, and the aromas of rose and citrus water filling their homes. Like the poetic language, Innerst’s art is exceptional. His warmly earthy illustrations are filled with light. The women’s songs and prayers swirl like steam off a hot loaf of bread, infused with symbolic leaves, fish, flowers and birds.
A perfectly baked blend of lyrical writing, stunning art, and much-needed Mizrahi Jewish representation. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781646147120
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
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With a universal message of love and community, this book offers a beautiful representation of a too-often-overlooked...
From a debut author-and-illustrator team comes a glimpse into a young American Muslim girl’s family and community as she walks around in “Mommy’s khimar,” or headscarf.
The star of this sunny picture book is a young girl who finds joy in wearing her mother’s khimar, imagining it transforms her into a queen, a star, a mama bird, a superhero. At the core of the story is the love between the girl and her mother. The family appears to be African-American, with brown skin and textured hair. The girl’s braids and twists “form a bumpy crown” under the khimar, which smells of coconut oil and cocoa butter. Adults in her life delight in her appearance in the bright yellow khimar, including her Arabic teacher at the mosque, who calls it a “hijab,” and her grandmother, who visits after Sunday service and calls out “Sweet Jesus!” as she scoops her granddaughter into her arms. Her grandmother is, apparently, a Christian, but “We are a family and we love each other just the same.” The illustrations feature soft pastel colors with dynamic lines and gently patterned backgrounds that complement the story’s joyful tone. The words are often lyrical, and the story artfully includes many cultural details that will delight readers who share the cheerful protagonist’s culture and enlighten readers who don’t.
With a universal message of love and community, this book offers a beautiful representation of a too-often-overlooked cultural group . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 3, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-0059-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
Lively, funny, and child-friendly.
A young girl is upset when her mother defers her promises.
When Ranya asks her mother if they can go to the park, Mama replies, “Insha’Allah.” Ranya fumes—that’s what her parents always say when they mean no! Mama explains that the sky’s looking overcast and adds that “insha’Allah“ means “God willing.” People say it when they hope for something that they aren’t sure will happen: “Sometimes Allah has other plans.” Ranya pries a little more: Is that why they didn’t bake cookies last night? And why her sleepover with her friend Jayda fell through? And why her parents have never taken her to Disneyland? Mama replies that it was getting too late to bake and that Jayda’s grandmother became sick, but she promises to take Ranya to Disneyland before she turns 18…insha’Allah. Ranya negotiates with her mother, who agrees that they can bake cookies later and Ranya can plan another sleepover. Mama notices the weather has improved and says they can go to the park. But first, she asks Ranya to clean up her toys. Ranya impishly replies, “Insha’Allah!” This is a sweet introduction to an expression often used in Muslim and Arabic-speaking communities. The playful banter between mother and daughter forms the heart of the story. Ranya and Mama are illustrated with warm brown skin tones; theirs is a diverse neighborhood. Homey illustrations in bold primary colors create a sense of coziness.
Lively, funny, and child-friendly. (authors’ note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 14, 2024
ISBN: 9780823454419
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
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