Homeland : My Father Dreams of Palestine, by Hannah Moushabeck/Illustrated by Reem Madooh, (March 2023, Chronicle Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781797202051
Ages 5-8
Three girls wait for their father to come so he can delight them with stories of his boyhood in Pakistan. Through his stories, the girls connect to their father and his homeland: a neighbor who farts so powerfully he leaves the chair; his grandmother, who dropped a basket on a rope from the window for the bread man to fill; the sounds of street vendors singing out their wares, the children playing, and the members of the community greeting one another in all languages. He remembers the last day he saw his grandfather, who brought him to a garden by the family café. Father shows his daughters the key to their family’s home – a home others likely occupy now – and a sadness takes over; the girls hope to return one day, but will dream of Palestine until that time. A story of family, hope, and longing, Homeland is one family’s bittersweet story of the Palestinian diaspora, brought beautifully to life by Madooh, whose rich digital illustrations bring daily life in Palestine to readers. Front endpapers show a rendering of black-and-white photos from Palestine; back endpapers show renderings of color photos of Moushabeck’s father and family in America. Gorgeous details throughout show a diverse culture in the streets and cafés of Jerusalem, with food, clothing, and music on each spread. An author’s note and photos provide deeper context and a glossary provides Arabic writing, pronounciation, and definitions for words that come up in the story. An excellent choice for collections, especially as we enter the final days of the All Together Now Summer Reading theme.
Mom Read It 