  | Amira's picture day Author: Faruqi, Reem | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
Amira is excited because tomorrow is Eid with special clothes, treats, gifts, and a morning party at her mosque; but then she realizes that she is going to miss class picture day at school, something she was also looking forward to--so Amira has to figure out a way to be in two places at once.
| Illustrator: | Azim, Fahmida |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.50 Points: .5 Quiz: 512093 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (03/15/21)
School Library Journal (+) (00/03/21)
Booklist (03/15/21)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/04/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/01/2021 K-Gr 2—Amira feels conflicted when she realizes that school picture day is the same day as Eid. Spotting the crescent moon marking the end of Ramadan, Amira and her brother Ziyad know it means that there will be prayers, celebrations, and skipping school the following day. Amira's mom decorates the girl's hands with mehndi. Amira and Ziyad prepare goody bags for the kids at the masjid, while her mother irons Amira's Eid outfit, a beautiful blue and gold mirrored shalwar kameez. Though Eid is full of the joy and community she loves, missing picture day puts a damper on the celebration, until Amira thinks of a possible solution. Deceptively simple, Faruqi's narrative gently addresses the impact that the celebration of non-Judeo-Christian holidays has on children and choices families make to uphold traditions. Moreover, Amira's conflicted feelings and insistence on finding a solution create opportunities for dialogue about the importance of acknowledging spaces that matter to children, especially while families try to foster positive identity. Azim's illustrations are fun and colorful, with tiny details reflecting the family's personality, while the people attending Eid celebrations at Amira's masjid are racially and culturally diverse, with varied skin tones, body types, and expressions of fashion and style. Back matter features an author's note and glossary of terms, referencing Urdu and Amira and her family's Pakistani roots. VERDICT A lovely addition to the collection of books about Eid that can be used all year long.—Ariana Sani Hussain, The Blake Sch., Wayzata, MN - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/15/2021 What a dilemma! How can Amira celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid with her family when it means missing school on the very day of her school picture? Amira is thrilled to have her hands decorated with mehndi, and she adores her new blue shalwar kameez, but she's unhappy not to wear her special dress to school. At the Eid party, the masjid (mosque) is decorated with streamers and filled with delicious treats and gifts. When her aunt takes a photo of the group, Amira gives only a small smile, remembering she won’t be in the class picture. But wait! Realizing that school isn’t over for the day, she shows up on time, fascinating the other children with her beautiful clothes. Now her smile is big as she joins her classmates for the class photo. Colorful and humorous cartoon artwork, created digitally, captures Amira’s expressive facial features and energetic body motions as she deals with disappointment, then celebrates a happy outcome. A great pick for teachers wanting to incorporate different cultural celebrations into holiday units. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
