Book review: A Promise is a Promise

A Promise is a Promise

Written by Bridget Hodder and Fawzia Gilani-Williams

Illustrated by Cinzia Battistel
Published by Kar-Ben Publishing

Picture Book

This picture book opens up in a Moroccan village with two boys, Jacob and Hassan, and their friendship of shared treats, time at each other's homes, and the supportive relationships of their parents. Over several pages of rhythmic descriptions of how they spend their time with their own families and then with each other in Jacob's family's garden, we learn about the games they play, their chores, and their favorite foods from each other's culture. Hassan and Jacob decide that the garden, a prayer and a promise to their parents, warrants time and attention from them as well, so they take some of their afternoons away from play to maintain the garden. When dangerous developments in the outside world force Jacob's family to flee, Hassan promises to continue to care for the garden. Many decades later, he is rewarded with the return of Jacob and his grandchildren.

This story would lend itself easily to read-aloud, both because of the engaging watercolor illustrations and the gentle, predictable text. It is a soothing, heart-warming story about friendship and loyalty. The time period is not critical to the story and is not given in the text, but the endnotes provide the details of the true story and individuals this book is based on. 

Classrooms are often searching for books about friendship, and this would meet many of those requirements: short enough to tell in one sitting, simple enough to be understood by most listeners, engaging with its illustrations and rhythm. The highlighted components of friendship in this story, keeping one's word and being dependable, are also unusual enough in children's literature to make this story stand out. The story takes rather adult concepts of loyalty and brings them down to a level children can understand.

This is a well-crafted, kind story featuring boys who are caring and emotional. 

Thank you to #ReadYourWorld, Multicultural Children's Book Day sponsors Kay-Ben Publishers for the #gifted book.