Lailah's Lunchbox

August 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-Lailah recently moved from Abu Dhabi to Peachtree City, GA, and while she misses her friends back in the Middle East, she is very excited to be old enough to fast during Ramadan. However, being new is one thing, but being different is another. What if her class doesn't know what Ramadan is? What if she is the only one fasting? Lailah falters when it is time to give Mrs. Penworth a note asking that she be excused from lunch, and she has to endure the tempting smells of food and kind offers of her classmates to share lunch. After escaping to the foodless library, the school librarian encourages Lailah to write down her feelings and share them with her teacher. After all, who knows what could come of sharing her culture? The large, often full-page watercolor illustrations provide gentle details that add depth to the text. A note and glossary round out the story, giving context from the author's life and information about Islamic culture. Fans of Patricia Polacco will enjoy this heartfelt tale. VERDICT A solid addition for libraries in need of modern Ramadan stories.-Brittany Staszak, St. Charles Public Library, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Grades 1-3 Last year, Lailah longed to fast for Ramadan along with her two best friends, but her mother said she was too young. This year, she has permission to fast and looks forward to leaving her lunchbox at home. But since her family has moved from Abu Dhabi to Peachtree City, Georgia, Lailah finds it awkward and difficult to explain her fast to others at school. After she summons the courage to confide in the librarian and her teacher, she finds the support she needs. In an author's note, Faruqi comments on the story's autobiographical roots and on what Ramadan means to her. The writing is sound and, though the figure drawing is occasionally awkward, the characters are nicely individualized in the expressive watercolor illustrations. This purposeful picture book will help fill the need for more stories reflecting the experiences of Muslim children in North America.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)