A Moon for Moe and Mo by Jane Breskin Zalben

Lovely is me.” The last double-page spread includes young and old: a white woman in a wheelchair (there is one amputee with a modern prosthetic leg earlier in the book), a goateed man in a bustier, and others of various colors and sizes. A gay interracial male couple face an adoring dark-brown–skinned child and mom.

A “short” smaller, light-brown–skinned male with green hair has a large dog. A white baby is “soft,” and an older white woman with purple hair, a spiked denim jacket and choker, a nose ornament, and many ear decorations is “sharp.” A “tall” person with Asian features walks a small dog. “Simple” appears on a tattooed white arm, along with a few designs, while “complex” is written on a brown arm, with what appear to be elaborate mehndi designs (henna designs applied before a South Asian wedding). Opposites are introduced: “black” for a white young woman clad in black and “white” for a young-looking, brown-skinned woman with flowing white hair. In today’s world, with increasingly evident diversity in race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexuality, fashion, body shape, abilities, and choices about everything, the author/illustrator presents people of every description in the bold, brightly colored digital illustrations. Completing the educational effort are two succinct informational sheets on both Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan along with two recipes for each tradition.īeauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, and this book encourages readers to regard everyone as “lovely.” Amini’s vibrant collages capture both the busyness of the neighborhood and the growing friendship between the families. Author Zalben and illustrator Amini are immensely successful in creating parallels between the two boys’ lives, with each aspect mirrored both in the narrative and graphically. The kids’ mothers are not indifferent to the developing camaraderie and agree to a picnic bringing the two families together to enjoy rugelach and date cookies. Hassan for Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

Feldman for Rosh Hashanah, the holiday celebrating the Jewish New Year, and Mrs.

Weeks pass, and they return to the store, Mrs. They are also quick to realize that they share more than just a similar look and have the same-at times reckless-passion for sweets and bouncing balls. Because of their similar curly dark hair, brown eyes, and olive-toned skin, Moe and Mo are mistaken for twins by the store owner, who gives them each a falafel. Moe and Mo meet by chance at the grocery store where their moms happen to be shopping. The tale of a nascent friendship between Moses Feldman and Mohammed Hassan, two kids from Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York they have different backgrounds…yet so many things in common.

A Moon for Moe and Mo by Jane Breskin Zalben