Hilwa's Gifts

Praise

Combining a centuries-old practice with the story about a Palestinian family and their relationship to the land make Hilwa’s Gifts an absolute treasure.
—Booklist (starred review)

Suleiman’s happy childhood memories come alive in this heartwarming story of tradition passed down through generations. Semirdzhyan’s earth-toned, digitally created illustrations capture the family affair that is the olive season. . . An authentic and heartfelt celebration of family and nature.
—Kirkus Reviews

This is a quietly buoyant story about family, food, and tradition, and the ending is especially heartwarming. . . Delicate linework and soft, watercolor-like dappling give the book an overall cozy feel, and the earthy tones are well suited to the breezy, warm setting. Pair with Odeh’s A Map for Falasteen (BCCB 10/24) for a celebration of Palestinian culture and how traditions can bring a family closer despite geographical distance.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A variety of framing choices keep the visual pacing lively, leading to an intergenerational family picnic that, amid the bounty, proves “the greatest gift.”
—Publishers Weekly

A gentle story about intergenerational bonds and the significance of olive trees to Palestinians as both sustenance and a metaphor representing closeness to the land.
—The Horn Book