Yaffa and FatimaShalom, Salaam
Review posted August 10, 2018.
Kar-Ben Publishing (Lerner), 2017. 24 pages.
Starred Review
Review written in 2017
Here’s a lovely tale about cross-cultural caring. The note at the front says it’s adapted from a tale with both Jewish and Arab origins about two brothers. The author has changed it to a story about two neighbor ladies, one Jewish and one Muslim.
The story is told simply and beautifully, fitting for a traditional tale.
Here’s how it begins:
In a beautiful land, called the Land of Milk and Honey, there lived two neighbors. One was named Yaffa and the other was named Fatima.
Yaffa and Fatima each owned a beautiful date grove. During the week they both worked very hard gathering their dates.
On most days Yaffa and Fatima sold all their dates at the market and were able to buy plenty of tasty food to eat – which they often shared.
Yaffa loved Fatima’s shwarma. And Fatima loved Yaffa’s schnitzel.
The book tells more about Yaffa and Fatima’s routines. Yaffa is highlighted in blue and Fatima in red, against a lovely brown background. They pray in different places. The read from a different book in the morning. They fast at different times. They celebrate different holidays. But this is still true:
They both loved God, and they both loved to follow God’s way.
They each wish the other “Peace,” but use a different word to do it.
When a drought hits the land, each of the neighbors lies awake at night worrying that the other neighbor doesn’t have enough to eat. So each one goes secretly to put some of her dates in the other’s basket.
Each one is surprised when they find more dates than they thought they had.
The next night, they go to do the same thing – but this time they spot each other. They hug, laugh, wish each other peace – and decide to share a meal of dates and tea.
Now, my summary doesn’t really communicate the charm and warmth of this lovely book. Children will readily understand the message that people can deeply care for one another despite external differences.