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msghani's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! I can't wait to read this one to my daughter as she grows older to instill the love of speaking and appreciating different languages in her. We're a bilingual household and I want her to be proud of her roots, just as this wonderful book teaches us to.
litagentsaritza's review against another edition
3.0
As I continue to educate myself on picture books through my self-imposed, self-curated, 100-Picture Book Challenge, I made it a point to choose titles that I would have liked to read as a child and/or with my children when they were little. What I am learning is that a good picture book transcends the age of the reader and imparts a message that's accessible, retainable, and entertaining.
In [a:Aya Khalil|19227120|Aya Khalil|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1559556166p2/19227120.jpg]'s beautiful picture book, we get all three. Her message of acceptance is at the forefront of the work but she weaves in the conversation of the diversity of language and culture beautifully as well. Using a patchwork quilt as a metaphor for unity is not exactly a new idea but the way she incorporates it into the story as a way for kids to see a tapestry of color, and words, and thereby seeing themselves in a different way as well (as their names are written in Arabic on the quilt) is marvelous.
In [a:Aya Khalil|19227120|Aya Khalil|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1559556166p2/19227120.jpg]'s beautiful picture book, we get all three. Her message of acceptance is at the forefront of the work but she weaves in the conversation of the diversity of language and culture beautifully as well. Using a patchwork quilt as a metaphor for unity is not exactly a new idea but the way she incorporates it into the story as a way for kids to see a tapestry of color, and words, and thereby seeing themselves in a different way as well (as their names are written in Arabic on the quilt) is marvelous.
mnboyer's review against another edition
4.0
Kanzi is a young Egyptian-American girl who is worried about being “different” in her school. Molly, a little bully, starts making fun of Kanzi when her mother speaks Arabic to her while dropping her lunch off. When the teacher gets wind of this, she brings Kanzi’s mom in and together Kanzi and the mom write out all of the classmates’ names in Arabic and the class makes a quilt. By appreciating language, the class comes together to better understand that bilingualism should be appreciated. At the end of a book, a Japanese-American student has led her class in the same activity! Molly also apologizes to Kanzi and they become friends.
The book opens with the family eating “traditional” Arabic foods and the child wishing she could get a PB&J to be more normal – so, we delve into the 5Fs. However, this is done strategically in a way that I adored. Food does not determine “normalness” is stressed. Bilingualism as a strength is stressed. Molly (the xenophobic blonde with an attitude) was completely hostile in a way that absolutely reflected reality; she deserved a stern lecture (which is provided, kindly, by the teacher).
I'm not pleased she became friends with Molly at the end. Molly has bad energy... I don't see her being a great friend in the future.
The book opens with the family eating “traditional” Arabic foods and the child wishing she could get a PB&J to be more normal – so, we delve into the 5Fs. However, this is done strategically in a way that I adored. Food does not determine “normalness” is stressed. Bilingualism as a strength is stressed. Molly (the xenophobic blonde with an attitude) was completely hostile in a way that absolutely reflected reality; she deserved a stern lecture (which is provided, kindly, by the teacher).
I'm not pleased she became friends with Molly at the end. Molly has bad energy... I don't see her being a great friend in the future.
mallen8509's review against another edition
5.0
I know my students will love this book because there's a character that I know they'll strongly dislike and that will hook them...They're messy y'all!
bextherex's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
itzdiyann's review against another edition
3.0
Cerita yang dibahas tentang diskriminasi imigran di Amerika gitu, inituh ceritanya yang sering terjadi di anak-anak :( dikatain ini itu.. sebel bgt sama ortu temennya yang ngajarin begituu! Untung penyelesaian masalahnya itu bikin hati adem.
librarianryan's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
This is a story about an Egyptian American girl who is going to an American school in the third grade for the first time. She becomes a little embarrassed by both her lunch and her language being something the kids don’t know. With the encouragement of the teacher, she uses her grandmother’s quilt to help show everybody that language is unique, beautiful, amazing, and helps make everybody friendlier. The class, then learns to make all their names in Arabic and the teacher makes a paper quilt to show the rest of the school. The idea is so fantastic that a neighboring classroom does the same thing, but in Japanese script to match a student in that class. This story is lovely. In the US, it is rare for most schools to teach separate languages from early ages. But this book reminds all that language is a beautiful thing and just because it doesn’t sound American doesn’t mean it isn’t, as most American words derive from other languages.
juliaheagle's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book has a great focus on accepting your culture and also being proud of it. It discusses not giving up who you are to fit in and being proud of the differences that make up your culture. It is a great book that would be great as a read aloud or for middle elementary students. Great discussion starter and you could do the same activity that they did in this book in your class.