Lalla cannot wait until she is old enough to wear the traditional malafa that the other women in the Muslim country of Mauritania wear. Malafas are beautiful, after all, and they help women look exotic and grown up. But when her mother answers the call to prayer, Lalla learns what a malafa truly stands for: faith. Then and only then is she ready for one.
I love this book. The illustrations are beautiful, and the lyrical text is a delight to read aloud. The book's poetic devices -- especially the frequent use of onomatopoeia -- beg to be shared with a class. Lalla's frustration with not being old enough for something the big girls get makes this book very accessible, while the introduction to another culture adds interest and educational layers to the story. In schools where faith-based books work, this would be a very nice addition. Otherwise, it would be an essential purchase for a public library collection.
EL -- PUBLIC. Reviewer: Caryn
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