Summary
When a young girl’s Auntie Fatma comes to visit, she puts her to bed every night by singing a lullaby filled with imagery of her home in Egypt. Through the bright and detailed illustrations, we are able to see a glimpse of Cairo through Auntie Fatma’s singing. From boats making their way down the Nile to gentle calls to prayer from the mosques and young children joyfully playing soccer in the streets, all of these things remind the girl of her life in Egypt.
Theme(s):
Family, Love, Creativity
Personal Response
This book was a window for me, as I have never been to Egypt and don’t know what it is like to live there. However, I thought the story was beautifully written and had bright illustrations that went with the words to give me a peek at what Cairo is like. The book was also unique because it had a glossary in the back with the proper pronunciation of words in Arabic that were used throughout the story. This might further make students interested in the text if they are able to learn new words.
Teaching Ideas
I think Egyptian Lullaby would be a great asset to a social studies curriculum. This book could be a helpful introduction to teaching students about other cultures and how people live versus how we live in our culture. This could also lead to discussions on the acceptance of others and their backgrounds and how we can respect them. While this book specifically focuses on Egypt, there are many other countries with unique cultures that could be discusses in addition.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06
