Grandma Hekmat Remembers: An Arab-American Family Story (What Was It Like, Grandma?) [Paperback]

Ann Morris (Author), Peter Linenthal (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2003 | Age Level: 5 and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4--The relationship between three young Arab-American sisters and their grandmother is profiled in this series title. The narrative moves between scenes of the girls and their grandmother at home in New Jersey to Grandma Hekmatt's memories of her former home in Egypt. Glimpses of Arab culture are gleaned from scenes of various activities, such as belly dancing, baking kahek, and learning how to write in Arabic. Though the family's religion is not the focus of the book, they are shown attending services at a mosque and celebrating Ramadan. What starts out as an appealing concept, however, falls short. The text is stilted and uneven in places, and the many photographs have an amateurish look to them. The page layout, with a confusing blend of large and small fonts, interferes with the readability rather than enhancing it. Though there is certainly a need for more good children's literature on such underrepresented cultures, this title doesn't quite make the grade.--Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. As in the six previous titles in their well-conceivedWhat Was It Like, Grandma? series, Morris and Linenthal once again usethe universal bond between children and grandmothers as a springboardto another culture. This time, the characters are Arab American girls,ranging in age from four to seven, and their grandma Hekmatt, whoseems as quick to laugh as she is to offer lessons in Arabic orstories about life back in Egypt. Seemingly candid photos recordplayful moments--impromptu belly dancing, making cookies--as well asserious ones, as when Grandma helps the girls don the hejab(headscarf) at their mosque. Following the series formula, oldphotos contribute to the sense of peeking inside an album, while acraft and tips section for exploring family history provides extensionactivities. Featuring immigrants more established in this country thanthe family in Bernard Wolf's Coming to America [BKL Ap 1 03], thisserves as a welcoming point of entry into a culture for whichpositive, humanizing representations are keenly needed. ((ReviewedDecember 15, 2003))Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (September 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761319441
• ISBN-13: 978-0761319443
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 5.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,200,022 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Explore the World > Middle East
  • #88 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Islam

More About the Author

Ann Morris's many books include Families, Bread Bread Bread, Hats Hats Hats, On the Go, and Loving. She lives in New York City. As a children's book writer, Ann Morris has been able to successfully integrate her varied experiences in teaching young children, travel, writing, and editing. Having grown up in the polyglot public schools of New York City, where each child's ethnic heritage was revealed by his name or by the contents of the lunch box from home filled with sausages, egg rolls, matzos, or pizza, she developed a strong Interest In cultures other than her own. "I'm a gypsy by nature," she says. "I always have my suitcase packed."
She and photographer Ken Heyman once traveled across the United States to document the lives often different families. Both she and the teacher's pupils liked the snake charmer/teacher who taught class in a circus trailer with her favorite boa around her neck. Although Ms. Morris has never tried this stunt he herself, she has taught children in public and private schools in New York City, and adults at Bank Street College, Columbia Teachers College, New York University, and Queens College of the City University of New York. More recently she has been teaching writing for children at The New School.
Ann Morris left teaching to become editorial director of Scholastic's early childhood department. Now she devotes her professional time to writing and all her other time to people watching, music in any and all Forms, cat care, cooking and eating, and travel. All of these experiences, she says, provide material for her books.
In Israel Ms. Morris was caught up in the enchantment of the place as well as the conflicts that are a consequence of its history. One of her books, When Will They Stop Fighting? (Atheneum), reflects her concern about children who have become the victims of these conflicts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a multicultural book about Arabs, March 5, 2009

By 

Megan Deperro (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grandma Hekmat Remembers : An Egyptian - American Family Story (Library Binding)

I am so happy to finally found a book that includes Arabs and Muslims. While there has been a large increase of multicultural books, those addressing Muslim and/or Arab peoples has gone ignored. This was a wonderful book.