Bábo: A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day

An enchanting celebration of heritage and childhood joy.

A lovely reminder that fun can be found in the most seemingly mundane of tasks.

Seldom has a domestic chore looked as irresistible as rug-washing does in Kamalyan's buoyant family tale. The outdoor ritual takes place under the watchful eye of grandmother Bábo as, "on the sunlit street... we will soak, soap, and wash the rugs." There, Tato the narrator, along with siblings and a neighbor, all portrayed with pale skin, make a game around textiles spread out for their annual cleaning. Once the soapy rugs have been jumped on and scrubbed, "Swoosh. We glide./ Swoosh. Droplets splash..../We twirl. Bubbles pop-pop-pop." More about the heirlooms is revealed: as they work on "Mom's favorite rug," a sibling explains that it was a wedding gift from Grandpa. Semirdzhyan's lively illustrations, digitally rendered to mimic pencil and watercolor, retain a looseness in keeping with action-oriented text as the work leads to satisfaction: "We all bit into sunny apricot pie. Powdered sugar flies." A glossary, author's note, and more about Armenian carpet-weaving conclude. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

A young girl describes a beloved summertime-tradition for her Armenian-family. Guided by Bábo, or Grandmother, four children jump into action to "soak, soap, and wash" their treasured family rugs. The three sibling and a neighbor know exactly what to do: they gather their brushes, smother the rugs in bubbles and water, and brush the suds out before flipping the rugs over for a second cleaning. The kids and a dog twirl, slide, and dance together over the frothy surfaces. When at last the rugs are rinsed and drying, everyone goes inside for a special summertime treat. The text invites every sense to the experience: the sounds of the brushes ("bop-bop-bop"), the smell of the hot air ("like rose jam"), and the feeling of bubbles under toes ("so pleasant and just a little cold"). The digitally rendered illustrations are lively and full of specificity; occasional aerial views show the intricate details of the traditional hand-woven rugs. A glossary provides translations and pronunciations of Artsakh Armenian words peppered through the text; the author's note and back matter provide more information about this story and the traditions behind it. A lovely reminder that fun can be found in the most seemingly mundane of tasks.

—The Horn Book, starred review