I admit, I don't know too much about Palestinian culture aside from a highschool MUN event, but I was touched and appreciative of this book that combines modern and old culture as well as that wonderful bond of sisterhood between generations. The illustrations are gorgeous.

I admit, I don't know too much about Palestinian culture aside from a highschool MUN event, but I was touched and appreciative of this book that combines modern and old culture as well as that wonderful bond of sisterhood between generations. The illustrations are gorgeous.

Sitti's Secrets presents a loving long-distance relationship between a little girl and her presumably Palestinian grandmother.

Sitti's Secrets presents a loving long-distance relationship between a little girl and her presumably Palestinian grandmother.

I read this book to my 7th graders when we studied Palestine and Isreal in social studies class. It touches on many issues such as differences and similarities, cultures, environment, and politics. I recommend it to all that are trying to make our world smaller and wiser.

My kids liked it and the message is beautiful. The ending is somewhat lost on younger children but may be a good discussion book for third grade and up.

I read this book to a my daughter's second grade class, and they were all fascinated. The idea of having someone you love living in a different time zone and speaking a different language, yet somehow still communicating is very well portrayed. I am always moved by Nye's evocative writing. I passed the book on to my brother in law to read to his young daughter and he was also very touched by it. Naomi Shihab Nye creates a wonderful, gentle tribute to the connection between grandmother and granddaughter.

I knew I'd love this book before I received it just from its description. It tells the story, based on the true-life experience of the author, of Mona, a little girl brought up in America in a Palestinian family who visits her parents' homeland in Palestine. She and her grandma (siti in Arabic) grow close although they do not speak the same language. I felt sad that this little girl had not received the rich gift of the language of her heritage. I taught my children to speak Spanish as their first language though I am American and we live in the USA. It is a gift I could not deny them as their fathers are of Hispanic origin. I never wanted them to find themselves in such a situation as little Mona, longing to share things with her distant family but struggling because of the barrier of language. With her grandma and with the neighborhood Arab children, Mona finds her own way of communicating and learns that sometimes it is not necessary to share a language to be able to share special moments with others.
This book depicts the peaceful life of a family in Palestine amid the turmoil that they have endured, but very subtly. When the little girl returns home, she writes a letter to the American president expressing her wish for peace and adds that she knows her grandma wishes the same. Each night, as she falls asleep, she connects with her grandma who she misses by thinking of the sun that leaves her side of the world now warming the land where her grandma lives. I wish we could all feel a connection with every human being on this earth as being just a sunrise away.

I bought Sitti's Secret about 10 years ago in D.C. I have read it to every one of my four children's kindergarten classes, crying each time. It shows the love of family and the misunderstanding of the world. The art work and the deepness of words are outstanding. I just read it to my youngest child's class and the emotions swelled again.