 This heartwarming picture book follows a young girl’s journey to discover her cultural heritage through her grandmother’s traditional cooking. The story beautifully captures the intergenerational bond as Hilwa learns to prepare family recipes that connect her to her ancestral homeland. The illustrations, rendered in vibrant watercolors with intricate details, depict the rich textures of Middle Eastern fabrics, the steam rising from aromatic dishes, and the expressive faces of the characters as they share meaningful moments in the kitchen. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses a warm color palette dominated by rich oranges, reds, and golds to evoke the spices central to the narrative and create a sense of comfort and belonging. The final spreads feature stunning double-page illustrations of a family gathering where Hilwa presents her perfected dish, symbolizing how food traditions can preserve cultural identity across generations and distances. mjw |
| Title: Hilwa’s Gifts Author: Safa Suleiman Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2025 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5362-2942-4 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Palestine Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian American Author’s residence: Colorado Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Kazakhstan, raised in Armenia Illustrator’s residence: Seattle Subjects: Cousins, Farm life, Grandparents, Heritage, Middle East, Multigenerational, Olive harvest, Olive oil, Olives, Picnic, Traditions |
Hilwa’s Gifts
Leave a reply
OmniLibros 