Kelly Cunnane

There are many reasons why I enjoyed this story. First, the author used very poetic and descriptive language throughout each page and she elaborated on the beauty and detail of the mysterious religion most do not talk about-Islam. The malafa is a huge symbol throughout this story. The main character, Lalla, yearns to be able to wear a malafa like her older female figures in her life. She loves the beauty and mystery it holds. Some language used includes “veiled head to toe in a malafa, show more color of lime and mango.” She also describes “trees of red flowers bloom with heat.” The way she says her thoughts vocalizes her poetic mind and shows the descriptive images she is trying to convey to the authors. Without having the book in front of me, I can see the malafa colored in those specific hues. The language is a huge key to making this book a success. The illustrations are very bright and contribute to the mood of the story and culture. The image of the mother looking into Lalla’s eyes shows how well developed and believable the characters are. It seemed very realistic like a child just wanting to grow up and wear what her mother wears and she tries to tell her child she will be able to wear it soon enough. The writing flows and is paced well throughout the entire timeline. Her poetic voice states “and gathers a malafa, slips it over your head, under your arm, round and round---a malafa, as blue as the sahara sky, as blue as the ink in the Koran, as blue as a stranger’s eye.” I can easily visualize the page through her descriptive voice and language. The big theme is having faith that you will get what you want and deserve as well as faith in your religion. The other big ideas include culture, tradition, value, and depicting the religion of Islam in a positive light. show less

I surprisingly enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the illustrations were very colorful and in beautiful shades of oranges and reds, as well as other soft colors. Second and most importantly, this book changed my outlook on a concept that I had looked negatively upon in the past. The story is about a young girl, Lalla, who lives in Islamic West Africa and is yearning to wear a malafa (a colorful veil that covers her head and body in public). She sees her mother wearing it and wants show more to be beautiful like her. She then sees her sister, cousins and grandmother wearing one and longs to be mysterious, a lady and traditional like they are when they wear a malafa. In the end, Lalla’s mother gives her one to wear as they head to the mosque to pray. Lalla then realizes that the malafa is for all of those things and most of all, it is for faith. I was always under the assumption that Muslim women were made to wear these cloths and it was a demeaning aspect of the Muslim faith. This story made me realize they embrace this tradition and that I should understand something before assuming a negative opinion. A few minor aspects of this book that I liked were the fact that it contained a glossary with several Hassaniya terms that were mentioned in the story, and it contained a detailed Author’s Note which provided a lot of background knowledge which was helpful in understanding the Islamic tradition. show less

Books about kids in other countries, especially picture books, are hard sells at my library. My picture book audience is all young children and many of these books are aimed at a grade school level. Since I'm looking for picture books that make good storytime read-alouds for younger children, it's hard to find something that genuinely portrays the children in a foreign culture but doesn't make it so foreign that the kids in my small town can't relate to it. I think this book manages to hit show more all my exacting requirements.

Lalla wants, more than anything else, a beautiful malafa. She wants one for beauty like her mother, for mystery like her sister, to be a lady like her cousin, to be like a long-ago queen like her grandmother. Finally, in the quiet of the evening, Lalla wants a malafa so she can pray like her mother. In her beautiful new malafa, Lalla knows that a malafa is all the things she thought it was and more; it's for faith.

A note from the author explains how she came to change her views on women's veils after spending a year in Mauritania. There is also a glossary for pronunciation.

Although American culture has very few rites of passage for children anymore (think about how many small girls don't need to borrow their mother's high heels anymore - they have their own) I think small children will definitely get the idea of wanting to play dress-up or borrow the pretty things their mother or older sisters wear. The unfamiliar words are clearly defined in the context of the text. There are brief references to the Koran and Muslim faith, which may bother parents who are uncomfortable with introducing their young children to a different religion (The closest Mosque to our town is at least 30 minutes away and we have maybe 3 Muslim families, so this is something kids are unlikely to be familiar with) but the religious references are very general and I think parents can easy cover it all under faith and prayer if they're not ready for a discussion of comparative religious beliefs.

The art is what really sells this for me. The malafas glow with color and pattern and swirl enchantingly around the warm and comforting extended family. In some ways this isn't just about wanting to grow up, religious beliefs or cultures; it's about the strength and relationships of the women in Lalla's family. The settings include lots of tiny details to intrigue children from bats in the trees to the houses like "tall cake".

Verdict: This is a lovely way to gently introduce young children to a different culture as well as a celebration of growing up. The art and story is accessible and this is a good selection even for a small, homogeneous community like my own.

ISBN: 9780375870347; Published 2013 by Schwartz & Wade/Random House; Review copy provided by the publisher; Added to the library show less

This beautifully illustrated picture book describes a young Mauritanian girl’s desire to wear a malafa, a colorful cloth worn over the head and body, just as her mother and other women in her life do. A refreshingly positive view of this oftenmaligned Muslim apparel.