Leila in Saffron

by Rukhsanna Guidroz (Author) Dinara Mirtalipova (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

"Glorious." --Kirkus Reviews

A colorful journey of self-discovery and identity, this sweet, vibrant picture book follows young Leila as she visits her grandmother's house for their weekly family dinner, and finds parts of herself and her heritage in the family, friends, and art around her.

Sometimes I'm not sure if I like being me.

When Leila looks in the mirror, she doesn't know if she likes what she sees. But when her grandmother tells her the saffron beads on her scarf suit her, she feels a tiny bit better. So, Leila spends the rest of their family dinner night on the lookout for other parts of her she does like.

Follow Leila's journey as she uses her senses of sight, smell, taste, touch to seek out the characteristics that make up her unique identity, and finds reasons to feel proud of herself, just as she is.

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Publishers Weekly

In a lyrical story about identity, family origins, and self-worth, Leila sees only her "skinny arms and knobby knees" in the mirror. But during a gathering at her Naani's house, Leila looks to her family "for parts of me that I like." She notes the similarities between her smile and her aunt's, looks forward to buying books written in Arabic during her first trip to Pakistan, and regards Naani's silk scarves in "the color of lentils, bright and orange; pomegranates, juicy and rosy; cucumber skin, dark and green; and threads of saffron, gold and copper." Her careful observations lead her to discover a unique internal mosaic of influences that "make me who I am." Mirtalipova illustrates in dramatic jewel tones that capture a homey atmosphere of abundance and warmth. Ages 4-8. (June)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--In her sophomore offering, Guidroz (Mina and the Monsoon), introduces Leila, a Pakistani-American girl visiting Naani (her maternal grandmother) for dinner. The book is an explosion of color and an exploration of family, togetherness, and belonging. Upon entering the house and looking in a mirror, Leila initially expresses low self-esteem. But as she moves through the evening, she describes her family and their traditions, and this reflects back her own true beauty in the end. Mirtalipova renders the entire book, especially Naani's house, in great detail, from the intricate flower patterns on the endpapers, rugs, and pillows, to the ornate metalwork on the staircase, and the delicate ornaments and books from Pakistan that Leila admires. The colors are lush pops of orange, pink, teal, and gold, which Guidroz describes in Naani's voice as the colors of lentils, pomegranates, cucumber skins, and saffron. A scarf in this last color inspires Leila to see herself as she is in the mirror, "A beautiful girl dressed in a sweet saffron scarf." Leila describes her evening using all of her senses, as she smells the ghee, and hears Naani's bangles. The cumulative experience of the book is being immersed in this warm environment. A slight stumble is the brief introduction of a gardening neighbor named "Miguel," whose appearance disrupts, rather than adds to, the narrative. Seven words, which appear throughout the book, are defined in a glossary, though their origin languages (Arabic and Hindi) are not named. VERDICT Leila's journey is a beautiful one to behold, and children will want to take it with her as they discover the power of love and family traditions.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A glorious book that's a feast for both eyes and ears, this story set in a multicultural context will ring true for children of all stripes. "— "Kirkus Reviews"
Rukhsanna Guidroz
Rukhsanna Guidroz is the author of Mina vs. the Monsoon and Leila in Saffron. She studied French at King's College, London, and political science at the Sorbonne, Paris, before living and working in Hong Kong as a journalist. After becoming a mother, Rukhsanna began her teaching career, working with students from kindergarten to high school. She now lives in Maui, Hawaii where she's taken up surfing. Learn more about her at www.rukhsannaguidroz.com.

Fahmida Azim is an illustrator, author, and tea drinker. She immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh as a child and grew up in northern Virginia, graduating with a BFA in Communication Arts from VCUarts. Her art frequently addresses the themes of identity, culture, and autonomy and has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and Vice. Fahmida now lives and works in Seattle. Learn more about her at https: //fahmida-azim.com/.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534425644
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
June 18, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV011020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
Library of Congress categories
Grandparent and child
Self-acceptance
Bashfulness in children
Bashfulness
Pakistani Americans

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