Amira's Picture Day - by Reem Faruqi

About the Book

Amira's excited because tomorrow is Eid with special clothes, treats, gifts, and a morning party at her mosque, but then she realizes that she's going to miss class picture day at school, something she was also looking forward to--so she has to figure out a way to be in two places at once.

Book Synopsis

Ramadan has come to an end, and Amira can't wait to stay home from school to celebrate Eid. There's just one hiccup: it's also school picture day. How can Amira be in two places at once?

An ALSC Notable Children's Book

Just the thought of Eid makes Amira warm and tingly inside. From wearing new clothes to handing out goody bags at the mosque, Amira can't wait for the festivities to begin. But when a flier on the fridge catches her eye, Amira's stomach goes cold. Not only is it Eid, it's also school picture day. If she's not in her class picture, how will her classmates remember her? Won't her teacher wonder where she is?

Though the day's celebrations at the mosque are everything Amira was dreaming of, her absence at picture day weighs on her. A last-minute idea on the car ride home might just provide the solution to everything in this delightful story from acclaimed author Reem Faruqi, illustrated with vibrant color by Fahmida Azim.

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year

Review Quotes

★ "Faruqi's prose is sweetly descriptive ('Tiny mirrors on her blue shalwar kameez shone happily in the sunlight'), and jewel-toned digital illustrations by Azim have a joyful, comics-style sensibility, with meticulous attention paid to the attire of the diverse crowd at the masjid. An endearing portrait of one child's specific cultural concern, with universal appeal for any reader ever caught between conflicting commitments."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "Faruqi effectively builds up the excitement to celebrate Eid and balances it with Amira's distress at missing Picture Day--readers will see that both are important. The characters and interactions at the masjid are real, reinforcing a community celebrating Eid, and so are Amira's interactions with her classmates. Azim's illustrations pair well with Faruqi's words, focusing on facial expression as well as body language to highlight the mixed emotions: excitement, sadness, surprise. There is much diversity among the people at the masjid, including hijab styles, other attire, and racial presentation. . . . Sweet and sympathetic." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Deceptively simple, Faruqi's narrative gently addresses the impact that the celebration of ­non-­Judeo-Christian holidays has on children and choices families make to uphold traditions. Moreover, Amira's conflicted feelings and insistence on finding a solution create opportunities for dialogue about the importance of acknowledging spaces that matter to children, especially while families try to foster positive identity. Azim's illustrations are fun and colorful, with tiny details reflecting the family's personality, while the people attending Eid celebrations at Amira's masjid are ­racially and culturally diverse, with varied skin tones, body types, and expressions of fashion and style."--School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Colorful and humorous cartoon artwork, created digitally, captures Amira's expressive facial features and energetic body motions as she deals with disappointment, then celebrates a happy outcome. A great pick for teachers wanting to incorporate different cultural celebrations into holiday units." --Booklist

"The rollercoaster of emotions around an anticipated event, holiday or otherwise, is perfectly captured here, from excitement to nervousness to joy to the inevitable letdown when it's all over, and Amira's frenetic energy has her galloping through the pages. . . . An author's note and glossary make this a useful primer for kids unfamiliar with Eid, but this could easily be used as a discussion starter about how we celebrate special days and with whom." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Reem Faruqi is an acclaimed children's book author. Her debut picture book, Lailah's Lunchbox, was named an ALA Notable Book and a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and was selected for the International Literacy Association's Choices reading list. Reem's debut middle grade book Unsettled is forthcoming from HarperCollins. Reem immigrated from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, to Peachtree City, Georgia, when she was 13 years old. She now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and children. Find her online at www.ReemFaruqi.com.

Fahmida Azim is an illustrator and storyteller whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Dallas News, NPR, Vice, Eater, and more. Born in Bangladesh, Fahmida immigrated to Virginia as a child and later graduated from VCUarts. Her publishing debut, Muslim Women Are Everything, written by journalist Seema Yasmin, publishes in 2020. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington. Find her online at Fahmida-Azim.com.