A review by middle_name_joy
Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane

4.0

All Lalla wants is to wear a malafa like her mother, older sister, and other women in her Saharan village. The malafa is a headdress, worn by girls starting as young as nine, as a practice of Islam in Mauritania, West Africa. While the headdress is full-length and often made of beautiful fabrics, provides mystery and protection from harsh winds in the desert, and is part of a centuries-long tradition, Lalla learns te malafa is also a source of belonging and a show of faith.

I knew very little about the Muslims in this area of the world, and I enjoyed the author's note at the end as much as the story itself. The illustrations were extremely respectful, honoring the faith and its practices and people without becoming a cartoon. Nicely done.