A tasty Ramadan treat.
A diverse group of Muslim neighbors prepare for their annual community meal.
It’s Ramadan, and the inhabitants of Rahma Road can’t wait for their iftar, the breaking of the fast. Everyone’s working hard to prepare their most delicious dishes to share. Great for reading straight through or skipping around, this cookbook covers Ramadan basics (What happens during Ramdan? Why is the iftar so significant?), highlights its importance for Muslims, and shows the care that goes into iftar, all while sharing recipes representative of the global Muslim community. The recipes are thoughtfully curated—from Nigerian jollof rice to Pakistani chicken tikka to Mexican elotes—and range in difficulty. The book alludes to the level of supervision required by noting which character is completing each step. The recipes are clearly written, with ingredient lists in metric and imperial units. Each includes a description of the dish, serving size, and preparation and cooking times. Community iftars are much-anticipated events for many Muslims during Ramadan, and Sohrabi’s brightly colored digital illustrations warmly capture that spirit. Some specialty ingredients are required, but backmatter advises readers to check the international aisles of local grocery stores; also included are important definitions, additional recipes, and an authors’ note.
A tasty Ramadan treat. (Picture book. 5-11)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9798888593646
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season.
A colorful wintry tale ushers in Chinese New Year over two weeks.
In this picture book, the narrator recounts with nostalgia an observance of the traditional New Year in rural northern China. The snow-covered village bustles with activity as folks venture out to greet relatives and friends. “On the third day, uncles started giving LANTERNS” refers to an old custom in provincial Shaanxi—especially among maternal uncles. Palpable and immediate are Zhao Di’s eager anticipation and the care with which she “walk[s] through the snow with her lantern in case she slipped or the candle blew out in the wind.” Simple yet vivid close-ups depict Zhao Di and her friends, bundled head to toe and comparing lantern designs—accordion, watermelon, etc.—while braving the cold and a bunch of rowdy boys. All too soon, the 15th day arrives, signaling the end of the New Year celebrations. In a pivotal spread that shows Zhao Di sitting with her dog and chickens, readers are granted an interior view of the architecture and layout of a rustic farmhouse. In addition, the villagers’ various clothing styles, headdresses, and skin tones suggest the region’s diverse ethnicities and socio-economic landscapes. As the story concludes with the obligatory smashing and burning of the lanterns, Zhao Di comforts herself with the hopeful thought of lighting new lanterns next year.
A charming illustration of childhood memories during the holiday season. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2984-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
Quietly contemplative and thoroughly lovely.
A child finds adventure and a change of perspective on a dreary day.
Clouds cover everything in a palette of unending gray, creating a sense of ennui and gloom. A child stands alone, head down, feeling as gray as the day, and decides to ride through town on an old bike. Pops of color throughout the grayscale illustrations go unnoticed—there are yellow leaves scattered about, and the parking lot is filled with bright yellow buses, but this child, who has skin the grayish white of the page, sees only the empty playground, creaky swings, a sad merry-go-round, and lonely seesaws. But look—there’s a narrow winding path just beyond the fence, something to explore. There are things to be noticed, leaves to be crunched, and discoveries to be made. Imagination takes over, along with senses of wonderment and calm, as the child watches a large blue bird fly over the area. The ride home is quite different, joyful and filled with color previously ignored, reaffirming the change in the rider’s outlook. The descriptive, spare text filled with imagery and onomatopoeia is well aligned with well-rendered art highlighting all the colors that brighten the not-so-gray day and allowing readers to see what the protagonist struggles to understand, that “anything can happen…on a gray day.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Quietly contemplative and thoroughly lovely. (Picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781797210896
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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