Home away from home

PreS-K--Nuha doesn't believe her mama when she says, "Oman is your home away from home." Jadda (for grandmother) is a stranger, and a summer in Oman seems so different, especially after Nuha accidentally leaves her favorite doll Mary behind. The colorful, childlike illustrations in oil paint, chalk, and ink foreshadow the shared vibrancy between Oman and home as Nuha slowly opens up to new experiences. During a trip with Jadda to the souk to find a new doll, Nuha learns to value and even delight in each different and special moment. Illustrations bring that market to life with tastes, smells, and colors as Nuha uses each sense to find more comfort: first by tasting the delicious shawarma; then henna hand-painting (familiar to Nuha from Eid celebrations at home); and, finally, through music, where she and Jadda joyfully dance. These sensory details bring Oman to life as Nuha immerses herself in the new and unfamiliar that ultimately feels like another home. When Nuha finds the perfect Omani doll, the trip is complete: their shared name (Mary/Miryam) highlights how special both places become. Glossary included. VERDICT Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and common experiences Nuha and Jadda share make this a standout. Recommended for all collections.--Rebecca Kirshenbaum

A girl's initial hesitation about visiting her grandmother in Oman turns into a journey of reconnection with family and culture. Nuha hasn't seen Jadda, her grandmother, in three years. Mama insists Jadda "is excited to spend the summer with you." Besides, "Oman is your home away from home." Nuha isn't convinced: "At least I'll have you," she whispers to her favorite doll, Mary, but in the travel rush, Nuha leaves Mary behind. Arriving "sticky and sweaty" in Oman to overwhelming unfamiliarity only confirms "this place was nothing like home." Wise Jadda suggests exploring the nearby souk where Nuha might find a new doll. The lively market becomes a feast for Nuha's senses: tasting delectable shawarma, wandering "perfumed alleys and glittery stalls," appreciating personal henna paintings, drumming with street musicians, and gazing at the orange sun and blue sea--"so different and distant, but together they paint the most beautiful sky." Walking home, Nuha even finds an Omani doll, naming her Maryam, a perfect companion for Mary. Jadda's embrace assures Nuha she's undoubtedly reached her home away from home. In an author's note, Indian-born and Omani-raised Akbari urges readers to "look beyond the stereotypes and explore the everyday joy of Arab culture and family--real life that often doesn't make the headlines." Her unadorned, accessible text is notably enhanced by Kheiriyeh's vibrant illustrations, which invite audiences to share Nuha's wondrous discoveries. Nurturing experiences transform a young girl's discomfort into visceral delight--for protagonist and readers alike. (cultural notes, glossary)(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.