The book, All Strangers Are Kin, Adventures in Arabic and the Arab World by Zora O’Neill is the story of the author’s pursuit to learn the Arabic language as she travels from one Arab country to another. Especially as someone who has struggled to learn the Arabic language, this book is a riot to read. This one passage in particularly resonated with me and was one of the many pushes I needed to print this book!
If Arabic dialects were written, it would make early reading easier. As it stood, children’s books . . . were in Fusha, but only the most devoted – and pedantic – parent would read them aloud. Fusha was the language of school and high culture, not the language of parental love and snuggling before bed.
YES! I felt so validated to read that it wasn’t just me. Even literate parents (and even some world leaders) found the formal Arabic words to be forced and uncomfortable. They are not cute or snuggly. – Over the past five years, I have seen a trend in Arabic children’s books towards cuter pictures and cuter subject matter but the words themselves are still not enjoyable or fun.
These Chicks/هالصيصان is the perfect book for snuggling with your little one and is complete with adorable pictures by Lela Tszinadze. I love singing the song and more so I love hearing my kids sing the song as they flip the pages. We can use the same words that are on the page to talk more about the pictures. It makes them feel that reading Arabic is accessible and fun.
Be sure to pick up a copy of your own! www.arabishway.com/marketplace
