Sunday, October 22, 2023

Egyptian Lullaby by Zeena M. Pliska, illustrated by Hatem Aly - ADVISABLE

Egyptian Lullaby
by Zeena M. Pliska, illustrated by Hatem Aly
. PICTURE BOOK Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2023 $19. 9781250222497 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Auntie Fatma comes to visit, she brings Egypt with her. The little girl misses Cairo so much, and for 2 weeks, her home feels different. They eat special foods Auntie brought and speak in Arabic, but best of all is the song Auntie sings every night - bringing the city of Cairo, with its sights sounds, and memories. 

A darling story - utilizing the pattern of "The House that Jack Built" the song grows and grows. We really liked it, and I can imagine that a child who has lived in Cairo or even visited would love it even more. The illustrations are interesting, ranging from colored pencil sketches to detailed drawings. Some Arabic words are woven into the text, and there's a glossary and author and illustrator notes as well. A nice addition to your picture book collection, and a great representation of an Egyptian child. 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

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