Daniel and Ismail

In the same city, two boys share a birthday: “Each got a soccer ball. And something special to cover his shoulders. Daniel got a tallit... Ismail got a keffiyeh.” Formatted to read from right to left, with text in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, this book tells the story of what happens when a Jewish boy and a Palestinian boy meet, play, and then accidentally take each other’s gifts home. Their interaction and inadvertent swap triggers stares, shouts, consternation, and “nightmares about what they have seen on the news.../ and about what they have heard adults say.” The next day, they swap gifts and get back to what matters: playing soccer together. Peris renders both boys in black-and-white against a colorful background, quietly emphasizing their similarities and evoking the constraints of their communities. The story’s gentle emphasis on the power of play to bridge difference is relatable and persuasive. Ages 3–6. [em](Aug.) [/em]