Leila in Saffron

In a lyrical story about identity, family origins, and self-worth, Leila sees only her "skinny arms and knobby knees" in the mirror. But during a gathering at her Naani's house, Leila looks to her family "for parts of me that I like." She notes the similarities between her smile and her aunt's, looks forward to buying books written in Arabic during her first trip to Pakistan, and regards Naani's silk scarves in "the color of lentils, bright and orange; pomegranates, juicy and rosy; cucumber skin, dark and green; and threads of saffron, gold and copper." Her careful observations lead her to discover a unique internal mosaic of influences that "make me who I am." Mirtalipova illustrates in dramatic jewel tones that capture a homey atmosphere of abundance and warmth. Ages 4-8. (June)

PreS-Gr 2--In her sophomore offering, Guidroz (Mina and the Monsoon), introduces Leila, a Pakistani-American girl visiting Naani (her maternal grandmother) for dinner. The book is an explosion of color and an exploration of family, togetherness, and belonging. Upon entering the house and looking in a mirror, Leila initially expresses low self-esteem. But as she moves through the evening, she describes her family and their traditions, and this reflects back her own true beauty in the end. Mirtalipova renders the entire book, especially Naani's house, in great detail, from the intricate flower patterns on the endpapers, rugs, and pillows, to the ornate metalwork on the staircase, and the delicate ornaments and books from Pakistan that Leila admires. The colors are lush pops of orange, pink, teal, and gold, which Guidroz describes in Naani's voice as the colors of lentils, pomegranates, cucumber skins, and saffron. A scarf in this last color inspires Leila to see herself as she is in the mirror, "A beautiful girl dressed in a sweet saffron scarf." Leila describes her evening using all of her senses, as she smells the ghee, and hears Naani's bangles. The cumulative experience of the book is being immersed in this warm environment. A slight stumble is the brief introduction of a gardening neighbor named "Miguel," whose appearance disrupts, rather than adds to, the narrative. Seven words, which appear throughout the book, are defined in a glossary, though their origin languages (Arabic and Hindi) are not named. VERDICT Leila's journey is a beautiful one to behold, and children will want to take it with her as they discover the power of love and family traditions.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA