REMEMBERING MOM'S KUBBAT HALAB

A little girl and her brother miss their dayik and their favorite meal she used to prepare.

Bushra and her brother, Sherzat, miss Mom and all the things she did for them. Since her death, they have not had their favorite meal, kubbat halab, which she used to prepare for them. Their dad isn’t much of a cook. Grandma and then Aunt Latifa both claim to “make the best kubbat halab,” but neither of their versions is quite like Mom’s. Bushra decides she can make it with Sherzat and Dad and shows them the steps. But when their kubbat halab still doesn’t taste like Mom’s, Bushra cries. Her brother and dad comfort her, and Dad reminds Bushra, “Your dayik will always be with us.” He adds, “And we’ll always remember her, especially when we cook together.” Kim’s gentle illustrations capture Bushra’s emotions—disappointment when she realizes her grandma’s and aunt’s kubbat halab are not like her mom’s, joy as she, Sherzat, and their dad prepare the kubbat halab. Sharif deftly portrays a child’s grief after losing a parent and shows a family healing together through a special meal that brings them memories of a loved one. Language and food references cue the family as Middle Eastern; in an author’s note, Sharif mentions her own Iraqi Kurdish background, discusses kubbat halab, and includes a recipe. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An accessible story about coping with loss.