LEILA IN SAFFRON

Name: LEILA IN SAFFRON
Author: Rukhsanna Guidroz
ISBN: 978-1-5344-2564-4

by Rukhsanna Guidroz ; illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 18, 2019

A glorious book that’s a feast for both eyes and ears, this story set in a multicultural context will ring true for children...

bookshelf

Little Leila discovers that she is so much more than just “skinny arms and knobby knees.”

Leila is at her grandmother’s house for their weekly Friday family dinner. When Naani tells her, “Saffron is a good color for you,” a buoyant Leila goes on the lookout for other things to like about herself. That evening, Leila is delighted to discover that she and her aunt have the same smile. She also bursts with pride when everyone praises the curry she helped Naani make (with some cilantro from neighbor Miguel’s garden). Just before going home, Leila tries on Naani’s saffron-colored silk scarf and is surprised by how beautiful she looks in the mirror. Only then does she realize that “each and every part of me comes together to make me who I am.” While young children may need help understanding how Leila gets from A to B, there is much to love about this book. Guidroz’s sensory magic shines in the “clink clink” of Naani’s glass bangles and in her shimmering silk scarves “the color of lentils, bright and orange,” and “pomegranates, juicy and rosy.” Plus, Mirtalipova’s mixed-media illustrations expertly convey the vivacity and warmth of Leila’s family and their Pakistani culture. A glossary in the back provides pronunciations and definitions for Arabic and Urdu words included.

A glorious book that’s a feast for both eyes and ears, this story set in a multicultural context will ring true for children of all stripes. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: June 18, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-5344-2564-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: March 11, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION

- BOOK REVIEW
SAMIRA SURFS
by Rukhsanna Guidroz ; illustrated by Fahmida Azim

- BOOK REVIEW
MINA VS. THE MONSOON
by Rukhsanna Guidroz ; illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta

bookshelf

WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

bookshelf

All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

bookshelf

ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

bookshelf

Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)