Our Favorite Day of the Year

by A. E. Ali, Rahele Jomepour Bell (Illustrator)

Overview

“Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme...the consummate first day read.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review)

A heartwarming picture book following a group of boys from different backgrounds throughout the school year as they become the best of friends.

Musa’s feeling nervous about his first day of school. He’s not used to being away from home and he doesn’t know any of the other kids in his class. And when he meets classmates Moisés, Mo, and Kevin, Musa isn’t sure they’ll have much in common. But over the course of the year, the four boys learn more about each other, the holidays they celebrate, their favorite foods, and what they like about school. The more they share with each other, the closer they become, until Musa can’t imagine any better friends.

In this charming story of friendship and celebrating differences, young readers can discover how entering a new friendship with an open mind and sharing parts of yourself brings people together. And the calendar of holidays at the end of the book will delight children as they identify special events they can celebrate with friends throughout the year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481485630
Publisher:	Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/30/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	41,964
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

A. E. Ali is a writer based in California. Her favorite day of the year is Eid al-Fitr.

Rahele Jomepour Bell is an illustrator of several picture books, including Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali on the Salaam Reads list. Rahele came to the United States from Iran in 2011 and pursued her dream of studying art at Iowa State University where she received her MFA in integrated visual arts. She believes all people share a common home in planet Earth, but may differ in their skin color, way of life, and their thinking. She loves these differences and believes this is what makes the world a beautiful place to live. Visit her at RaheleStudio.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/15/2020

This tranquil tale opens on kindergarten’s initial day, as Ms. Gupta tells her richly inclusive class that the first day of school is her favorite day of the year, and that each student will have a chance to share their favorite day at show-and-tell. When it’s Musa’s turn, he and his mother bring in food and decorations to commemorate Eid al-Fitr. His tablemates—with whom he forges a bond despite initial skepticism (“They were total strangers”)—in turn introduce their beloved annual observances, which include Rosh Hashanah, Las Posadas, and (in a nod to math and science aficionados) Pi Day. The highlight of this earnest celebration—of festivities, varied family configurations, and friendship—is Bell’s art, created using digital brushes and scanned, hand-painted textures, which feature intricate patterns and endearing portraits of the students. Ages 4–8. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Our Favorite Day of the Year

RECEIVED FIVE STARRED REVIEWS!

* “This celebration of diversity and friendship includes lush descriptions of each holiday and can serve as an entry point for any one of them. Bell’s textured illustrations are festive and youthful, picturing a diverse, child-centered world...The dual focus on friendship and diversity makes this choice a winner.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred

* “A comforting story that will help build bridges among children of different backgrounds and faiths.”—School Library Journal, starred

* “The highlight of this earnest celebration—of festivities, varied family configurations, and friendship—is Bell’s art, created using digital brushes and scanned, hand-painted textures, which feature intricate patterns and endearing portraits of the students.”—Publishers Weekly, starred

* “Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme will likely make Our Favorite Day of the Year kindergarten classrooms' favorite book of the year...This lovely book is the consummate first day read for preschool or kindergarten.”—Shelf Awareness, starred

* “Readers will revel in this openhearted look at how friendships are easy to form when everyone is willing to share and rejoice in what makes each person unique.”—BookPage, starred

“An abundance of skin tones, body types, and facial features adds to the diversity in this vibrantly colorful, happy book.”—Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 05/01/2020

PreS-Gr 4—On the first day of kindergarten, Musa is surprised to hear from his new teacher that he will become good friends with the children in his class. She knows what she's talking about, structuring her classroom to embrace the differences among all students. One way the children become closer is by sharing their favorite day of the year. Each child believes his or her favorite day is the most special, but everyone is willing to learn about another culture, the associated foods, and the special traditions--all while sharing in the joy their classmate feels for the day. Musa explains why his favorite day is the Muslim holiday of Eid Mubarak, while Mo shares why he loves Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Moises celebrates the nine days of Las Posadas for his Christmas tradition, while Kevin talks about his family's love of science and their celebration of Pi Day, when his family learns about scientists and their discoveries. The celebrations profiled in the book are less about religion than family traditions and connections, and the year concludes with the teacher showcasing all these favorite days in calendars she passes out to the class. Colorful, charming illustrations show a diverse classroom where learning is thoughtful but also energetic and filled with music, dancing, and eating. VERDICT A comforting story that will help build bridges among children of different backgrounds and faiths. —Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA

School Library Journal

★ 2020-04-12
Musa shares Eid with his new kindergarten classroom and learns about other students’ favorite days of the year as he makes friends with children from different backgrounds.

At the beginning of the school year, teacher Ms. Gupta, who wears a bindi, tells the children the faces in this room will become their closest friends. Brown-skinned Musa can’t imagine it. But when the teacher says that everyone will share their favorite day of the year so they can all celebrate it together, Musa is elated. He shares Eid with his classmates. His mother comes in to help, wearing a hijab, and they serve the class foods from various cultures within Islam. “Everyone could see why Eid was Musa’s favorite.” When the other students share their favorite days, they are similarly received by the class: Mo shares Rosh Hashanah, with help from his family, two men wearing kippot who share his light skin and brown hair and a brown-skinned child with black hair; Moisés shares Christmas and Las Posadas; and Kevin shares Pi Day. At the end of the year, they have become good friends. This celebration of diversity and friendship includes lush descriptions of each holiday and can serve as an entry point for any one of them. Bell’s textured illustrations are festive and youthful, picturing a diverse, child-centered world. The endpapers are particularly intriguing, with quiltlike squares picturing various cultural symbols; further information on each of the four holidays appears in the backmatter.

The dual focus on friendship and diversity makes this choice a winner. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews