Sour Cherries

April 1, 2024
Picking cherries helps a child preserve familial bonds. An Afghan family spends a summer day gathering sour cherries. The family, including the young narrator, snacks on the ruby-red fruit while preparing to cook some of their favorite dishes. First, they wash the cherries in a nearby stream and then divide them into three parts for jam, dinner, and tea. Papa stokes an open wood fire as the children help "spice the rice" and "salt the stew." Drinking tea as the food cooks, the protagonist's mother reminisces about learning these recipes from her own mother, whom the children call Bibi. The narrator hopes to visit her in her home, but "Wars hold places locked away." Though the child is far away from loved ones and familial roots, re-creating cherished recipes helps to foster a sense of connection. While the rhyming text is at times a bit clunky, overall this is a heartwarming celebration of family and the joys of shared traditions. Using bold reds, blues, and yellows, the bright artwork depicts a warm, cheery day. Close-ups of pots of cherries and colorful rice are rich in detail, while images of interconnected underground tree roots are a vivid illustration of the idea that generations can remain connected across time and borders. Azaad concludes with an author's note about his own experiences as a refugee and includes a recipe for sour cherry tea. A lovely tribute to family and the continuity of rituals that bind generations together. (Picture book. 4-8)

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May 15, 2024
Grades K-3 This companion title to 2023's The Carpet puts readers in an idyllic rural setting as a happy family of four sets about harvesting cherries. It's a merry event, with smiling people, scarlet cherries dangling from a tree, and a clear stream in which to wash them. Papa prepares a wood fire and the cherries are added to a rice dish fragrant with spices. A stew and tea are also prepared, and the family enjoys a lush picnic. The parents share stories of a distant home, now war torn, where they once learned to pick and prepare cherries. Now the picnic takes on a deeper meaning: the passing on of traditions, honoring of ancestors, and making of memories. From the author's note, we learn that sour cherries are native to regions around the Caspian Sea and that this story is in part an homage to Azaad's own Afghan heritage. Vibrant, cartoon illustrations add a cheerful tone.

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