Arab Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook

Winner of the Saskatchewan Arts Council's 2021 Wallace Stegner Award

“A really nice idea wonderfully fulfilled.”

“This reading-and-feasting anthology, a combination of stories and recipes, makes a unique addition to the literary landscape for both children and their adults … This book is well-pitched at young readers, with short, tightly plotted stories and related fun facts; the sort of book a child can read and re-read … The stories are fun and irreverent, with the tricksters, widows, and young children generally winning out over the stiff, the stodgy, and the greedy … the stories are updated to feel both timeless and contemporary. They take their young readers on a quick tour of different cities and…

“A must-read book … Children’s books are known for a lot of things, but teaching kids how to cook is not one of them. And yet, after reading Karim Alrawi’s book, Arab Fairy Tale Feasts, one wonders, why not? Written by Alrawi in simple, approachable language and with obvious affection and tenderness for his culture, this book includes folk tales that immerse the reader and urge them to consider the Arab perspective. Each story is about food, feasting, and Arab culinary traditions, and concludes with a recipe for a traditional favorite dish, such as mamoul (date-filled cookies), shish taouk…

“This book serves as a gesture of hospitality to those who want to begin to develop an appreciation of Arab culture. Read the stories and make the meals, but be sure to share both with your family or friends, or most importantly of all, with strangers. Highly Recommended.”

“A delicious series of original stories that shares Arabic culture with young readers as each story not only takes them on a mouth-watering journey but includes a traditional recipe.”