MAMA SHAMSI AT THE BAZAAR

When an Iranian child and her grandmother set off for Tehran’s bazaar, the little one sees it as an opportunity to hide in her grandmother’s chador.

Although Samira is eager to help her grandmother shop, she worries that the marketplace will be overwhelming. Despite Mama Shamsi’s reassurance, Samira asks if she can hide under her grandmother’s chador. Mama Shamsi counters Samira’s requests with clever responses, claiming, for example, that if Samira huddles on Mama Shamsi’s back, the pair will look like a turtle and that if she squeezes against Mama Shamsi’s belly, they will resemble a kangaroo. The back and forth continues until they arrive at the bazaar, where Mama Shamsi promises Samira that she will always keep her safe. The rhythmic, playful text beautifully captures the dual patter of an excited child and a bustling city. The authors’ note, which describes the writers’ own childhood experiences playing with their relatives’ chadors, not only imbues the text with meaning, but also helpfully points out elements of the richly hued, often comedically exaggerated illustrations that they find particularly Iranian and especially meaningful. The authors also stress the importance of offering a loving depiction of the chador to counter portrayals of the veil as “a symbol of hate.” Although the title is a bit misleading (the tale ends just before the characters enter the bazaar), this is nevertheless a charming and comforting tale. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet and gentle story about an oft-misunderstood garment.