Amira's Picture Day

Praise

★ “Faruqi’s prose is sweetly descriptive (‘Tiny mirrors on her blue shalwar kameez shone happily in the sunlight’), and jewel-toned digital illustrations by Azim have a joyful, comics-style sensibility, with meticulous attention paid to the attire of the diverse crowd at the masjid. An endearing portrait of one child’s specific cultural concern, with universal appeal for any reader ever caught between conflicting commitments.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ “Faruqi effectively builds up the excitement to celebrate Eid and balances it with Amira’s distress at missing Picture Day—readers will see that both are important. The characters and interactions at the masjid are real, reinforcing a community celebrating Eid, and so are Amira’s interactions with her classmates. Azim’s illustrations pair well with Faruqi’s words, focusing on facial expression as well as body language to highlight the mixed emotions: excitement, sadness, surprise. There is much diversity among the people at the masjid, including hijab styles, other attire, and racial presentation. . . . Sweet and sympathetic.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ “Deceptively simple, Faruqi’s narrative gently addresses the impact that the celebration of ­non-­Judeo-Christian holidays has on children and choices families make to uphold traditions. Moreover, Amira’s conflicted feelings and insistence on finding a solution create opportunities for dialogue about the importance of acknowledging spaces that matter to children, especially while families try to foster positive identity. Azim’s illustrations are fun and colorful, with tiny details reflecting the family’s personality, while the people attending Eid celebrations at Amira’s masjid are ­racially and culturally diverse, with varied skin tones, body types, and expressions of fashion and style.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Colorful and humorous cartoon artwork, created digitally, captures Amira’s expressive facial features and energetic body motions as she deals with disappointment, then celebrates a happy outcome. A great pick for teachers wanting to incorporate different cultural celebrations into holiday units.” —Booklist

“The rollercoaster of emotions around an anticipated event, holiday or otherwise, is perfectly captured here, from excitement to nervousness to joy to the inevitable letdown when it’s all over, and Amira’s frenetic energy has her galloping through the pages. . . . An author’s note and glossary make this a useful primer for kids unfamiliar with Eid, but this could easily be used as a discussion starter about how we celebrate special days and with whom.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books