Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar

It’s young Samira’s first time shopping with her grandmother in Tehran, and as the pair walk to the city’s busy bazaar, she clutches onto Mama Shamsi, anxiously asking about the market: “How big will it be? Will I get lost in the crowd?” When Samira next proposes hiding under her grandmother’s chador, Mama Shamsi, repeating “Na, na, na,” laughingly explains that Samira—clinging to her back, or huddled against her rear or belly—will have others thinking she’s a turtle, mule, or kangaroo. Each of the pair’s rhymed exchanges convey a sweet bond as detailed by Hassani and Iravani, who describe Tehran as a magical city and the chador, per an authors’ note, as a “safe and comforting space.” Fidawi’s collage-like digital illustrations overlay realistic city scenes with playful images of Mama Shamsi’s imaginings, sweetly blending the realistic with the fantastical. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)