Cookies and Crescents

February 15, 2025
A Muslim child learns that fresh beginnings can bring new ways to celebrate old traditions. Reem lives in a bustling, tightknit urban neighborhood; the young narrator adores the community's Eid traditions, including Mama's delicious, buttery cookies. But Reem and Mama are moving away just before Eid, and the child is crushed. "Al harakah barakah, Reem. Movement is a blessing," says Mama. Even with a bigger kitchen to bake in, Reem isn't so sure. Sensing Reem's melancholy, Mama suggests they make a batch of cookies together in their new home. Reem finds almost all the ingredients--but wait, where are the walnuts? The cookies won't be the same! Mama comforts the emotionally overwhelmed Reem with her own story of moving as a child and with advice that taking old traditions somewhere new can make them even better. Reem embraces change, adapting Mama's recipe with delectable results, and finds someone with whom to start a new tradition: spotting the crescent moon that signifies the start of Eid. Drawing from her own experiences, Dutka gently delivers a compassionate tale of resilience and introspective growth, emphasizing the adage that "home is where you make it." Firdauzia's digitally created illustrations, dominated by purples, blues, and greens, focus on facial expressions and body language to convey Reem's roller coaster of emotions. Reem and Mama have light brown skin. An author's note offers a sweet message of hope, followed by a recipe for ma'amoul, the story's unnamed Eid cookie. Tender, heartfelt, and sympathetic.(Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2025

K-Gr 3-A heartfelt picture book that uses the celebration of Eid al-Fitr as a catalyst for a touching story about Reem, who is facing a major life change: moving away from her city home, family, and friends. As Eid approaches, Reem struggles with leaving behind the people and traditions she's always known, including the community's love for her mother's famous Eid cookies. The story beautifully captures her feelings of sadness and frustration-especially when the cookie recipe causes a snag. They are missing walnuts and now live too far away from stores to just run and purchase some. Through her mother's gentle care, wisdom, and encouragement, Reem learns to find hope in her new surroundings and discovers the strength to look forward to what's ahead and embrace change. Dutka's storytelling blends emotional depth with the warmth of family traditions, making it both relatable and uplifting. Firdauzia's illustrations bring the story to life with vibrant full-page spreads. The use of rich golds, calming blues, and harmonious greens adds warmth and depth to the narrative, perfectly complementing Reem's emotional journey. VERDICT While not an essential purchase, this book is a valuable addition to Eid collections or for families experiencing big life changes.-Cassie Veselovsky

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.