Summary
Ahmed was worried about packing labne sandwiches for lunch because he thought it would bring attention to him, but with the help of his mother, he learns to embrace his Arab heritage. Ahmed began spreading his love of labne sandwiches with the rest of the school. Not only did everyone love them, but things got a little chaotic while Ahmed was running his business. This book shows that it is okay to be different and that others may embrace your culture and traditions if they are aware of them.
Theme(s):
Diversity, Leadership, Entrepreneurship
Personal Response
The story of Ahmed shows how someone may hide parts of their identity and culture, in worry of what others might think. Ahmed selling food to his classmates in the cafeteria helps show children how they can make a difference in the world, even though there may be some struggles along the way. I think students would really enjoy this book because they can see how food an important part of cultures, but it can also be enjoyed by others as well.
Teaching Ideas
Teachers can use this book to teach students about leadership and problem solving. Amed is a young entrepreneur that learns quickly what the business world is like, while teaching others about his culture’s cuisine. Teachers could read this book in the and have students bring in food that is popular in their culture. Students could create a poster to explain/advertise it to the class and engage in conversation about their food while getting to try other classmates’ foods.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04
