5 pages from inside this book

Salma the Syrian Chef

Name: Salma the Syrian Chef
ISBN: 9781773213743

by Danny Ramadan

Subject: Cooking & Food
Age: 3-5 years
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 40
Publisher: Annick Press
Size: 23.6 cm × 28.6 cm
ISBN: 9781773213743

17 awards, nominations, and distinctions!

Newcomer Salma and friends cook up a heartwarming dish to cheer up Mama.

All Salma wants is to make her mama smile again. Between English classes, job interviews, and missing Papa back in Syria, Mama always seems busy or sad. A homemade Syrian meal might cheer her up, but Salma doesn’t know the recipe, or what to call the vegetables in English, or where to find the right spices! Luckily, the staff and other newcomers at the Welcome Center are happy to lend a hand—and a sprinkle of sumac.

With creativity, determination, and charm, Salma brings her new friends together to show Mama that even though things aren’t perfect, there is cause for hope and celebration. Syrian culture is beautifully represented through the meal Salma prepares and Anna Bron’s vibrant illustrations, while the diverse cast of characters speaks to the power of cultivating community in challenging circumstances.

About the creators

DANNY RAMADAN is an award-winning Syrian-Canadian author, activist, and public speaker. His work as an activist has helped provide a safe passage to dozens of Syrian LGBTQ+ refugees to Canada. He is the author of two novels for adults, The Clothesline Swing and The Foghorn Echoes, and a forthcoming memoir, Crooked Teeth. Danny lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

ANNA BRON studied traditional animation at Sheridan College. She illustrated the award-winning picture book Salma the Syrian Chef and the middle-grade novel Harvey and the Extraordinary. She has animated, designed, and directed commercials and short films. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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What reviewers said

“A marvelous look at food, family and community.”

"This poignant story, and Bron’s lively illustrations, will definitely touch young readers."

“The illustrations provided by Anna Bron add emotion and depth.”

“Anna Bron’s vibrant art . . . [is] stunning . . . Danny Ramadan’s gorgeous writing is full of swoonworthy lines. Salma is a character you won’t forget for a long time.”

“A strong book about the emotional side of a child immigrant’s experience.”

“Ramadan builds a heartfelt story of culture, community, and love around the Syrian crisis . . . Tight prose shines through poetic use of simile and a dedication to narrative, with Bron’s art bringing the text’s humanity to life.”

“Sure to become a favorite book about overcoming hardships and helping others. This is truly one story not to be missed.”

Provo Library Children’s Book Reviews

Salma the Syrian Chef

About the creators

What reviewers said