Winner of the Saskatchewan Arts Council's 2021 Wallace Stegner�Award�
�A delicious series of original stories that shares Arabic culture with young readers as each story not only takes them on a mouth-watering journey but includes a traditional recipe.� �The Globe & Mail
�The latest volume in the publisher�s �international storied cookbooks� series draws on the rich storytelling traditions of Arab peoples � Here, 14 tales capped with pithy morals are paired with complementary recipes � Kazemi�s largely unlined, stylized illustrations employ a folkloric sensibility to render ingredients as well as human characters of various skin tones. Ages 8�12.��Publishers Weekly
�[Arab Fairy Tale Feasts] contains 14 delightfully entertaining original tales � Each short fable is accompanied by one or more related recipes � All the tales, which are accompanied by numerous colorful illustrations, end with a moral � VERDICT These tales beg to be read and discussed; the many and varied recipes will be fun for classroom use or for families to share. K-Gr 3.��School Library Journal
��An engaging literary cookbook that is a feast for the eyes, the heart, and the palate.�This charming third installment in the Fairy Tale Feasts Collection turns to the Middle East and North Africa � Each story incorporates alimentary motifs and themes and is followed by a complementary recipe from the Arab world � The recipes�most of which require easily obtainable ingredients�are uncomplicated � [And] there is much to be learned, even for readers familiar with Arab culture. Both stories and recipes are enhanced with folk art�style illustrations that add a traditional feel.� �Kirkus Reviews
�This reading-and-feasting anthology, a combination of stories and recipes, makes a unique addition to the literary landscape for both children and their adults � This book is well-pitched at young readers, with short, tightly plotted stories and related fun facts; the sort of book a child can read and re-read � The stories are fun and irreverent, with the tricksters, widows, and young children generally winning out over the stiff, the stodgy, and the greedy � �the stories are updated to feel both timeless and contemporary. They take their young readers on a quick tour of different cities and landscapes, full of bright children, silly adults, and feasts fit for a hungry young reader. As well as being an excellent gift and keepsake, the book is also a very handy kitchen resource. In the end, it�s hard to know whether this collection should be kept in the kitchen or on a child�s bedroom bookshelf." �Marcia Lynx Qualey,�Middle East Eye
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�From a miser in Egypt who spills his lentil soup and loses his fortune while dreaming of great riches to a young woman in Algeria who cleverly catches the thief who stole her wheat for couscous, this volume in the Fairy Tale Feasts series uses short Arabic folktales and fairy tales to present traditional foods from the Middle East and North Africa. Each story is followed by one or two related recipes with an explanatory note about the dish�s popularity in Arabic culture and sidebars that offer more information about the featured food, such as the Arabic origin of the English word apricot and the fruit�s special use as a drink during the season of Eid. For readers unfamiliar with the Arab world, a useful introduction describes where Arab people live, their shared Arabic language, the golden age of Arab cookbooks, and the influence of Arab cuisine on other parts of the world (e.g., the Spanish dish paella has Arabic roots). Fitting illustrations in a folk-art style add more flavor to this savory, multipurpose collection.��Booklist
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�A must-read book � Children�s books are known for a lot of things, but teaching kids how to cook is not one of them. And yet, after reading Karim Alrawi�s book,�Arab�Fairy�Tale�Feasts, one wonders, why not? Written by Alrawi in simple, approachable language and with obvious affection and tenderness for his culture, this book includes folk tales that immerse the reader and urge them to consider the�Arab�perspective. Each story is about food, feasting, and�Arab�culinary traditions, and concludes with a recipe for a traditional favorite dish, such as�mamoul�(date-filled cookies),�shish taouk�(chicken kebab),�manakish zaatar�(zaatar flatbread), and more.�Arab�Fairy�Tale�Feasts�is part of a series of children�s books that celebrates the cuisines of different cultures with kid-friendly recipes and heartwarming anecdotes.�Grades 4-7���Vancouver Writers Festival
�This book serves as a gesture of hospitality to those who want to begin to develop an appreciation of Arab culture. Read the stories and make the meals, but be sure to share both with your family or friends, or most importantly of all, with strangers. Highly Recommended.��CM: Canadian Review of Materials
Praise for the Fairy Tale Feasts Collection
�A fun book for family sharing.� � School Library Journal
�A really nice idea wonderfully fulfilled.� � Kirkus Reviews
�More than just a storybook, more than just a cookbook, this � series promises to bring people together to share food and stories, embodying the spirit of generosity of the tales within.� � Quill & Quire