Review: Yaffa and Fatima Shalom, Salaam by Fawzia Gilani-Williams and Chiara Fedele

9781467789387

Two neighbors—one Jewish, one Muslim—have always been best friends. When they both fall on hard times, can they find a way to help each other?

While the women in this story are of different religions, neither religion is mentioned by name, and great care is taken to show how similar they are. So much so, in fact, that some parents may be uncomfortable with the connotation that all religions are the same.

The main theme, however, is that the two women are friends regardless of any differences, and that friends are concerned about each other's welfare. When hard times come, each thinks only of the other, and takes action to make sure her friend is taken care of (with humorous results). If children can take away that caring attitude, then the story is well worth the read!