Naomi Shihab Nye

Sophisticated readers will appreciate the poetic examination of family and the life of one woman, her past, and the influence on the members of her family. All new poems by Nye remind us of that we all have family and a community, as we meet and empathize with the poet’s late mother.

An American child initially has trouble communicating with her Palestinian grandmother. Families, family stories, immigration, and communication are among the possible build-outs related to this book.

Aref flies with his mother from Oman to rejoin his father in Michigan so his parents can attend graduate school. While the boy misses his much-loved grandfather, Sidi, he gradually adjusts to his life and enjoys several surprises. Aref and Sidi were first introduced in The Turtle of Oman, though this book stands alone. The hallmark of both novels is the lyrical language and loving relationships.