Bebo Ortiz and His Qamis by Wendy Diaz

📚 Bebo Ortiz and His Qamis 📚

Author: Wendy Diaz

Illustrator: Alessandra Maria

Publisher: Self-Published

Age: 4-8

Islamic Content:

Concerns: None

Summary:

Bilal (Bebo) really loves his qamis (thobe). He feels like a true leader when he has it on. So he wears it every single day at school until his qamis was in the laundry. He refused to wear anything else except his qamis.

Review:

I have to say, Wendy Diaz brings a such a unique voice and perspective to the Muslim lit world. Her books are culturally diverse and fill a very necessary gap in Muslim bookshelves.

This book is no exception. I loved the diversity this book provides little readers. The sprinkling use of Arabic and Spanish vocabulary is spot on. This story is has a relatable dilemma for kids when they have a favourite clothing they might feel attached to for one reason or another. The story is narrated in 3rd person. Bebo goes to an Islamic school which we rarely see in Muslim books. The messaging of embracing different parts of your faith and culture is executed through the thobe and the Cuban guayabera. Text wise, I personally think its a little lengthy for a picture book and could have been condensed quite a bit. It takes quite a few pages into the book to really build up to the plot. None the less, this book is necessary authentic Latino Muslim rep for classroom shelves and for a personal collection.

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