SUNDAYS ARE FOR FEASTS

Yasmine attempts to make hummus.

In Yasmine’s “summer home across the ocean,” domed red roofs spread to the horizon, and the air smells sumptuous—after all, “Sundays are for feasts.” Yasmine is excited to help prepare for the big family gathering, until Jiddo (Arabic for Grandfather) gives Yasmine the job of making hummus. The child’s never done that before. Plus, Yasmine, who didn’t grow up here like Baba (Yasmine’s father) did, can’t speak Arabic as well as the rest of the family. What if everyone is disappointed? The family’s kind, smiling faces and their cozy home, rendered in soft colors and round shapes, balance Yasmine’s anxiety with a sense of peace and comfort. Savory-looking chickpeas, garlic, tahini, and lemon will spark yummy memories for readers familiar with this traditional blend, but they’re also easy to recognize for newcomers. Yasmine’s nervousness when the hummus doesn’t come out just like Baba’s will resonate with many children who haven’t grown up in their parents’ homelands, but Baba’s empowering reassurance (“It’s yours. Hummus à la Yasmine!”) affirms the value of the protagonist’s unique contribution. While it might be difficult for a hummus purist to accept the backmatter’s breezy suggestion to add new flavors like pesto, this supportive family could charm anyone into a cheerful cry of “sahtein!” (Arabic for “bon appétit”). Though the setting isn’t specified, in her author’s note Boukarim mentions that she was born in Lebanon.

A winsome ode to Middle Eastern food and families.