Elzein highlights the power of kindness to reach across cultural and religious divides in this illustrated children’s story about the spirit of Ramadan.

The house next door to young Ahmad and his mother, Leila, is for sale, and an elderly woman named Gladys, and her cat, Fluffy, come to see the place. Gladys notices a sign in front of Ahmad’s house that reads, “Salam Alaikum” and wonders what it means; the real estate agent says that he doesn’t know, but that the home belongs to a Muslim family. The woman troublingly expresses worry and says that she’s “not sure about this neighborhood,” but the agent convinces her to try the house for a month and “meet the neighbors.” It’s soon established that her worries are based on ignorance regarding a faith and a people she knows nothing about. Ahmad and Leila knock on Gladys’ door that evening, bringing her a plate of warm food and inviting her to be their special guest for dinner the next night in celebration of Ramadan. As Ahmad and Leila offer kindness to Gladys and others in the community, Gladys learns the true meaning of Salam Alaikum (“peace be upon you”) and forges a special bond with Ahmad. This sweet story offers children a beautiful example of cultural competency and what it means to love one’s neighbor. As Gladys and Ahmad share their Egyptian Muslim and English Christian cultural backgrounds (and foods) with each other, it offers valuable opportunities for learning, empathy, and mutual understanding. The story also demonstrates the uniting power of kindness, community service, and hospitality—the perfect book to read with children during Ramadan. It also shows kids how they can make a difference in their neighborhoods, no matter how young they are. Elgazzar’s bright, friendly illustrations have a soft, childlike appeal and ably communicate the warm, friendly tone of the story.

A sweet and valuable tale of cultural understanding and the meaning of kindness.

A young girl starts her own business in this picture book about budding entrepreneurship.

When Amber overhears her parents talking about their budget being too tight to build her a treehouse, the girl is not sad—she wants to help. She asks them what her best skills are and calculates how to turn those strengths into a business. After she decides she’ll pot plants to sell, she asks her friend Jasmine to assist her. They produce potted plants for a local carnival, but the profits are not enough to make back Amber’s initial investment. They decide to expand to online sales and enlist their class to help. When Amber reaches her goal, it turns out her family’s money issues have been resolved, so she uses the profits to build a treehouse at her school for everyone to enjoy. Elzein breaks down the costs of starting a business as well as profits per unit in simple spreadsheets and equations throughout the appealing story, showing the math behind the project. But neither the author nor Amber accounts for the marketing costs or the value of labor. While Amber’s teacher praises her for having “a business mind and a kind heart,” the girl’s resolution to share the profits feels just rather than charitable, given all the labor her friends have contributed. Wang’s bright cartoon illustrations include a diverse group of kids with different skin tones and clothing styles (including a girl who wears a hijab).

An engaging and approachable introduction to starting a kid-sized business.

Kids unite in protesting an unfair ban on a fellow elementary school student’s cultural tradition in Elzein’s picture book.

Lisa is delighted when Lulu, a little girl about her age, moves in across the street. They bond over ice cream in the park, and Lisa admires the pretty headscarf, a hijab, that Lulu wears. The next day, the two friends walk together to school, where the principal tells Lulu that, due to a new ban, she must remove her hijab to enter. Lulu tells him that she cannot do so; he’s sympathetic, but says that everyone must follow the rules. Lisa supports Lulu’s stand by refusing to go to school if Lulu can’t, and soon gets other students to join their cause. Elzein’s clear text is never heavy-handed and models empathy in the actions of the students, parents, and a teacher, showing how simple action can effect positive change. The author’s vision of peaceful coexistence is complemented by Hasan’s full-color cartoonlike illustrations, which visualize the suburban world of Lisa (who’s Black), and Lulu (a light-skinned Muslim), in deft, full-page imagery. Lively, detailed scenes feature the park, a classroom, the interiors of the girls’ homes, and kids with varying skin tones and abilities. Sharp-eyed readers will also spot two cheery birds, yellow and blue, recurring throughout.

A well-illustrated tale with thoughtful, age-appropriate messages of unity and diversity.

Two girls forge a strong connection during two gift-giving holidays in this debut picture book.

One year, the Muslim holiday Eid and Christmas coincide. Blond-haired Eva’s school honors Christmas by performing A Christmas Carol for an orphanage. Brown-haired Aya’s school celebrates Eid by inviting orphans to have cake and lemonade. Both girls are pleased with what they’ve shared. The next day, the two girls go to the same toy store and get stuck together in an elevator. To help the girls focus on something less scary, Eva invents a game where both guess each other’s presents. But when they finally leave the elevator, the girls rethink their gifts when they remember the orphans and decide to give their presents to others instead. Aya donates hers to a church’s orphanage, and Eva offers hers to an orphanage run by a mosque. Elzein uses simple sentences to convey the story, focusing on the two girls’ budding friendship rather than bogging down the tale with details behind each holiday. The message of compassion and giving, especially across cultural lines, comes through clearly in accessible language for independent and lap readers. Hasan uses kid-friendly digital art to depict both girls as distinct members of their own ethnic groups, and Aya’s mother wears a hijab. (Both religious leaders are men.) Though the story’s location is never revealed, the blooming trees and flowers and an amusement park ride indicate a warm-winter (or Southern Hemisphere) site.

A charming tale that portrays bicultural kindness.