The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story

The Arabic Quilt

by Aya Khalil, Anait Semirdzhyan (Illustrator)

That night, Kanzi wraps herself in the beautiful Arabic quilt her teita (grandma) in Cairo gave her and writes a poem in Arabic about the quilt. Next day her teacher sees the poem and gets the entire class excited about creating a “quilt” (a paper collage) of student names in Arabic. In the end, Kanzi’s most treasured reminder of her old home provides a pathway for acceptance in her new one.  


This authentic story with beautiful illustrations includes a glossary of Arabic words and a presentation of Arabic letters with their phonetic English equivalents.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Immigration, Fiction, Family, Cultural

36 pages, Hardcover

First published February 18, 2020

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely picture book, with its touching message and colorful illustrations, has been published at the most opportune time, for young and old alike!

Once again, I put this book to the test with a class of Grade 2 students, and here are their thoughts:
1. they liked both the writing and the pictures;
2. the quilts decorated with Arabic and Japanese names were delightfully appreciated;
3. they liked learning about someone else's culture, especially a fellow classmate's, who just happens to share the same surname as the author (Btw, this child was extremely helpful with some of the Arabic pronunciations!); and,
4. five stars from ALL the students!

I enjoyed reading this book to these children as we also had a lively discussion about tolerance and what sincere apologies look and sound like.

I highly recommend this story for those of you who enjoy reading to children and/or just enjoy a great picture book!

[Aya Khalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote The Arabic Quilt from my heart. It's based on true events from my childhood when I immigrated to the US from Egypt when I was one years old. Growing up, I still remember the kind teachers along the way who made me felt welcome. I also still remember the "mean" classmates who excluded me for being different. I hope you and your students, children, and friends enjoy this authentic story.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conveys an important and encompassing message with a relevance that will never diminish as we move towards a world of acceptance, inclusion, and peace.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl, Kanzi, and her family emigrate from Egypt to the US. No other Egyptian kids at this school, and when mom comes to bring (unfamilar to the others) food to the school, wearing hijab, Kanzi gets teased, but when she gets home she finds comfort in wrapping herself in her grandmother's quilt, which leads to her class's own quiltmaking and learning about Arabic/Egyptian culture.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Egyptian-American girl finds a way to share her bilingual gift with her 3rd grade class. When other students comment on the Arabic words Kanzi's mother uses, the teacher invites Mama to the class for a special project. Mama shows each student his or her name in Arabic. The child copies the name while creating a colorful picture to be combined with all the other names in the class. Sharing languages helps build a bridge to understanding and cultural reconciliation. The engaging narrative is beautifully illustrated with ink and watercolor drawings by Anait Semirdzhayan. Thank you to Debbie Waskiewich for recommending this delightful picture book. Would make a fantastic read aloud for early elementary students.

[Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book knowing that there would be representation of the Muslim culture. I wasn't aware that I would end up feeling so much from a picture book that is a few pages. It might be marketed towards children but this book made me recall so many things that I went through in my childhood and I felt this so closely. Absolutely loved this and it's definitely a way to make children become more proud of where they come from and the languages they speak. I'm so excited for the world to see this!

[Jessica Haider · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A story about a girl who's parents are immigrants from Egypt. Kanzi is nervous about her first day at a new school and how she will fit in.

This book has an important message about being open & accepting of other's culture.

[Miss Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This arc from Tilbury House, to be released Feb. 4, 2020, shares a very relevant story of immigration, acceptance, differences, language, and a teacher encouraging that diversity by embracing each other's languages. It is a gift of coming together to celebrate their differences and inspire others. The expression and feeling within the illustrations compliments the story beautifully.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was the daughter of immigrants coming of age in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I remember cringing at how different my food was from my peers and how — well, alien — my parents were. So The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story really hit home on that level. At the same time, as a teacher, I have many students who themselves the children of immigrants. I like to believe it’s easier now; however, the need for this book tells me it’s not really.

Kanzi, a recent immigrant from Egypt, so desperately wants her classmates to like her; however, on her very first day, a careless student makes Kanzi aware of her “otherness.” Author Aya Khalil pieces together a wonderful story that never overwhelms with its message. It’s as beautiful as the quilt created by Kanzi’s beloved teita (grandma) and Anait Semirdzhayan’s poignant illustrations.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Myrick Marketing & Media, and Tilbury House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about an Egyptian-American girl at a new school. Embarrassed by her language (and her lunch), she finds herself not quite fitting in. But after a project at school where everyone makes a quilt featuring their names written in Arabic, the kids learn that knowing more than one language can be a valuable skill.

The theme and message aren't quite as focussed as I would like. Is it a book about Kanzi's grandmother's quilt? Is it a book about bullying? Racism? Spicy meatballs? There's quite a bit thrown in here, and I'm not sure the message gets across as well as it could.

But the illustrations are cute, and the overall theme about the value of diversity is nice. Those looking for picture books about the immigrant experience might like this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tilbury House Publishers for providing a digital ARC.

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first children’s book that I’ve read about accepting different languages. I have heard so many times people say if you’re in America you need to speak English. I never understood that logic. Different languages are beautiful.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely lovely. The text and illustrations are both incredibly appealing, and the story of an Egyptian-American girl learning to accept her bilingual, multicultural identity is authentic and moving. This story is based on the author's experiences as a child, and she convincingly resolves the narrative conflict without making it saccharine or unbelievable. This book is a great choice for schools because of its classroom setting, and families with multicultural backgrounds or interest in learning about other cultural experiences will greatly enjoy this.

Another thing I admire about this book is how well the author incorporates Arabic words into the story without making it difficult for someone who is unfamiliar with the language to read the book aloud. There is a glossary in the back, and the book also mentions some English words which were derived from Arabic. I knew that 'sofa' and 'zero' came from Arabic, but I wasn't aware of the others, and found this very interesting.

This is a great book, and even though I have read a lot of different picture books about immigrant children adjusting to lives in a new school, this is already one of my new favorites. People who have enjoyed this and are interested in similar titles should consider I'm New Here and My Two Blankets.

I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

This was a two-fold choice for reading to my group: I'm a quilter and they all are wrapped every night in my quilts - and that's a satisfying thought for me; and we are serial reading for diversity this year - exploring new cultures, peoples and places. This book checked both of those boxes. but wait, there's more! This book acknowledges the power of language, and the wonder of sharing them.

The artwork in this book is especially bright and engaging, spotlighting the ways Kanzi adjusts to her new living environment, school and how she is able, with the help of her Mama and Teita's quilt, to reconcile her differences with others. She loses nothing, and gains all. We all need to learn how to do that.

A great read for everyone, not just kids.

[Kirstie Myvett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the first day of school and Kanzi must learn to balance this new American way of life with her Egyptian-American life. With the support of her mother, teacher and Teita's quilt, she is able to share her heritage with her classmates - bridging a gap across races and cultures. This story is a reminder that differences do not make us "un-American" but are what make us uniquely Americans. We are a melting pot of different languages, cultures, traditions and that's the beauty of "The Arabic Quilt."

[Michael Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and timely story about inclusion and acceptance told from the perspective of a young immigrant girl. Rich with culture and kid-relatable themes, TAQ is a sweet, thoughtful, and personal. A must-have for any parent interested in broadening their child's horizons.

[Rameela (Star) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was literally so cute and heartwarming and wholesome. Definitely would recommend this to anyone who wants to read something about a young girl who isn't afraid of her culture and appreciate diversity. I would definitely want to add this to my collection and share this with children everywhere!

[Maleeha Siddiqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! I can't wait to read this one to my daughter as she grows older to instill the love of speaking and appreciating different languages in her. We're a bilingual household and I want her to be proud of her roots, just as this wonderful book teaches us to.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

On her first day of school in America, Kanzi’s goal is to fit in. And she believes that means not being different. She even wishes her baba would pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for her lunch instead of her favorite – a kofta sandwich. When Mama brings her forgotten lunchbox, kids laugh at Mama’s use of the Arabic word “Habibti.” However, Kanzi’s teacher is an ally, and she reminds Kanzi of the beauty and value of being bilingual. And Kanzi finds comfort in a cherished quilt from her grandma in Egypt.
When she finds the courage to share the quilt with her class, Kanzi’s classmates admire the quilt and are excited to make a paper collage quilt of each of their names in Arabic. When the project is met with resistance from a student who says, “My mom says we should only speak English,” Kanzi and her teacher remind the class about the many English words that derive from Arabic words. And her teacher says, “We can speak non-English languages and still be American.” Yes! This beautiful story’s themes of acceptance and celebrating differences shine through.
The warm and inviting illustrations convey much emotion and beautifully complement this heart-warming story. This book will be a wonderful addition to any elementary school classroom or library!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story about appreciating other languages and cultures.

When Kanzi moves to a new town with her Mama and Baba, she is afraid of being different as an Egyptian-american. But when one girl makes fun of her mama for speaking Arabic, Kanzi is ready to share who she is instead of hiding. She brings the quilt her teita made for her back in Egypt to school, and soon, her show and tell turns into an inclusive activity of making their own class quilt out of paper.

The story is simple and straightforward, and shows how beautiful it is to learn about other cultures, but also how similar we all are, no matter where we're from. The pictures are colorful and expressive. You can learn a lot of about Kanzi's Egyptian heritage just by studying them. And I especially love the quilt pattern of the front and back covers. Just perfect!

I also appreciate that there will be a glossary for the Arabic words that were used. I love learning words in other languages, and I think kids will be excited to learn words like "thank you" in Arabic.

I hope to see more books like this that introduce other cultures in a fun and engaging way. Definitely recommend this beautiful book!

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a poignant, sweet, ultimately uplifting story of a girl adjusting to a new school. As if that weren't challenging enough, Kanzi and her family are Egyptian immigrants. Kanzi encounters some students who are unkind about her language and food. But her teacher connects with Kanzi through her poetry and her special blanket, handmade by her grandmother back in Egypt. Together with Kanzi's mother, they help Kanzi's class to understand their similarities and appreciate the differences, and they even inspire another class.

Khalil gently shows us the difficulties immigrant children can endure and how to connect with your new surroundings. I also appreciated the peeks into Kanzi's home life and the balancing act of American customs and Egyptian customs. While definitely a message story, "The Arabic Quilt" was fun to read and the art was lovely to look at. This would be a good book for 4 year old children and older. It can be enjoyed on its own or as the starting point for conversations around immigration, friendships, cultures other than our own, and meeting challenges.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Kanzi starts at a new school, she is worried about fitting in, but learns that you don’t have to be the same as everyone else to have a place in the class (or the world). As a teacher, I confess that I loved the supportive role the teacher played and how she facilitated learning without lecturing. This book had other highlights for me: the obviously loving, shared parenting, and that Kanzi expresses herself through poetry (making me think of the poet Sara Abou Rashed). My only little complaint would be that I think some of the language in Kanzi’s poems doesn’t sound like a third grader, even if she is fluent in English, which Kanzi seems to be.

[Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arabic Quilt is a valuable story for children from early elementary through late elementary. I've read it to multiple age groups (k-2 and 3-5) and every time it held students' attention from beginning to end and led to rich, long discussion afterward. I think the many children of color I work with can definitely relate to the MC feeling out of place and maybe even ashamed of her background. It's an important book for white kids as it shows how words can hurt people from minority backgrounds. I loved this book and highly recommend.

[Annette Schottenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aya Khalil’s story is an important one that will have young readers wanting to embrace other children who come from different backgrounds. Young Kanzi, an Egyptian-American, wants to fit in with her new classmates. In the end, something unique helps her realize that her heritage is part of what makes her special. Anait Semirdzhyan’s beautiful and expressive illustrations add another layer to this must read.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kanzi is starting her first day of third grade in a new school. She wants to be welcomed, not be different. Yet her mother appears at school dressed in a hijab calling her “Habibti” with Kanzi’s kofta sandwich she left at home. Teased she finds comfort in her Egyptian grandmother’s quilt. After introducing her quilt to her classmates, the class discovers that words and language can unify. I loved the artwork.

[Tameka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story of self esteem, acceptance, and cultural education. It does work on so many fronts. I love it!

[Audiophile Archives · Rating 4 out of 5]

reading because for some reason, there are some uninformed people who feel its message and very nature of being, needs to be banned and/or censored: The Arabic Quilt, a children's book, is banned in some states (Pennsylvania’s Central York School District banned it in September 2021) for the book's lesson: The lesson is not to be ashamed of being bilingual or different from other kids, and it shows the power of diversity by celebrating it.

https://engaged-learning.providence.e...

Educational, too: included glossary of Arabic words spoken in Egyptian dialect and a list of English words derived from Arabic. As an audiobook, lovely full cast: Soneela Nankani, Marisa Blake, Stephanie Willing, Kelsey Navarro, Qarie Marshall. 12 minutes, 42 sec.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arab American Heritage Month: book number 2.

This book has colorful and expressive illustrations. It is based on the author’s own childhood experiences. It incorporates a few Arabic words, and has a glossary.

Kanzi is an Egyptian-American girl. She has a treasured Arabic quilt made by her Teita (grandmother).

Kanzi is nervous about the first day of school and wants to fit in. When classmates make fun of her mother’s language, and Kanzi cries, her teacher says:

“Oh Kanzi, being bilingual is beautiful. Don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed. You are special.”
The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story, by Aya Khalil

The next day, the teacher notices a poem that Kanzi has written about her quilt, and tells Kanzi that she would love to see it. The following day when Kanzi holds her quilt up for her classmates to see, one child suggests making one in class.

Mrs. Haugen, (the teacher) arranges for Kanzi’s mother, to help the class makes a paper collage quilt with all of the children’s names in Arabic. The new quilt is displayed in the hallway, and soon, another class displays a quilt of their own with children’s names written in Japanese.

I like the way this book validates the power that is within each of us. Mrs. Haugen, turns negative situations into positive ones, and thereby influences others for good. I like the way she also wrote English words on the board (algebra, coffee, lemon, sugar) and asked the children what each word had in common. The answer—they all came from Arabic words.

[Melowmedia210 Media210 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review ( Must read) “The Arabic Quilt”
Plot
The story is about a little girl who travels to a different country. ( I won’t say the name because I do not want to spoil the book). Rate
Opinion
When I started reading the book I loved the plot a lot, The story has a good taste of elements. The part I love in this book is the word “ Quilt” the author is showing about her life when she came to the United States and how people who lived around her area treated her. This book must be read by everyone because it shows how the immigrants get treated in different countries, how kids, teens and college students also get treated for that way. The story ended great, I got surprised the way it ended and I would recommend it to everyone, not just kids. The arts and the drawing are amazing, I loved the character names and it shows you friendship, diversity, and culture.
Do not forget to purchase the book.
This book will be out on February 4, 2019.
You can buy it through Amazon.
Must read!

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Languages can unite us together like a quilt. So I will always speak my languages without guilt.

Introducing your child to different cultures helps your child grow in empathy and compassion. Kanzi is now living in the United States going to school. She has moved from Egypt and she has brought with her a quilt that reminds her of her home and family. Kanzi does'nt want to be different but she learns that it is the differences that make her unique. With the help of her teacher, the other students learn that lesson as well.

A lesson that is never ending and Kanzi's story is a great reminder of that lesson. It puts a face to preconceived ideals.

A special thank you to Tilbury House Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story of Kanzi want to be "American" and fit in with her friends at school, and hide her heritage, and how her teacher shows her, instead, how to share it with others.

So often, when you are an immigrant, or child of an immigrant, you want so hard to be just like everyone else, that you lose sight of what makes you you.

A gentle story about how even the snotty girl in the class, who looks down on Kanzi, comes around in the end.

Recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.