Esma Farouk, Lost in the Souk by Lisa Boersenand Hasna Elbaamrani illustrated by Annelies Vandenbosch
This fun and silly picture book takes place in a Moroccan shopping center, where a visiting Esma Farouk, suddenly can’t find her mother. Lost and tearful, the community comes together to help her out: from water carriers, to a man with a monkey, the acrobats, the fortune teller, the musicians, and even the snake charmer. Esma is encouraged to be brave and together they all put on a show, and reunite Esma, Mama, and Auntie Fatima. There is no Islam, or any religion, in the text, but their are plenty of visible Muslims in the illustrations, in this OWN voice book inspired by the author’s memories of packing peanut butter and cheese on summer trips to visit family.
The book starts with Esma and her family heading to Morocco with their bags bursting with gifts, when they get there they are emptied and quickly refilled with the gifts their family is giving to them. Esma wants to go to her favorite place, the souk, and Mama and Auntie Fatima are happy to take her. Mama is in her new purple djellaba’ bargaining, and Esma is watching a snake charmed by music, when suddenly she realizes, Mama is not there. Panic sets in, but Esma is quickly surrounded by kind strangers willing to help her find her family.
I enjoyed the illustrations and the love and joy and excitement that they brought to the text. I have no way to know if the details are accurate, but I hope they are as my kids enjoyed going back and getting lost in them, even after the last page was read. The sense of community and kindness is wonderfully portrayed and the action at the souk, makes it seem like a fantastic place that everyone should go and visit.
