★"A meaningful and heartwarming tale that shares lessons of goodwill, generosity, and gratitude" – Kirkus, starred review
So many people, so many languages.
'Thank you' can be a simple smile, a friendly wave, a warm hug.
Mariam is one of millions of people from all over the world who has come to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj, and she overflows with excitement and awe. Mama tells her, "Hajj is a time to do good, share, and be thankful." But what good can Mariam do? That's it! She'll share Zamzam, blessed water from an ancient well, with everyone she meets.
As Mariam shares her Zamzam throughout Hajj, she meets friends from all over the world. From fellow pilgrims, she learns new ways to say thank you, tries new foods and drinks, and discovers that when you share with and help others, someone will help you when you need it too.
• Takes place during the annual pilgrimage event in Saudi Arabia
• Characters from cultures across the world share foods and languages
• Learn about appreciating differences within a community
• Detailed endnotes unpack the cultural elements in the book, and explore Islamic traditions As Mariam begins her Hajj – the annual pilgrimage to the Ka'aba in the city of Makkah – she decides to share blessed Zamzam water with everyone she meets. Soon, she discovers that when you share with others, someone will help you when you need it too.
★"A meaningful and heartwarming tale that shares lessons of goodwill, generosity, and gratitude" – Kirkus, starred review Razeena Omar Gutta has been writing for children and sharing her love for diverse books on various blogs for over ten years. She is the author of Hana's Hundreds of Hijabs. Razeena is a South Asian Muslim born in Zimbabwe and now living in Australia, where her three book-loving children inspire her to highlight Muslim lives in the joyful stories she writes for children.
Bassent Dawoud is a children's book illustrator and art teacher living in Cairo, Egypt. To express the unique qualities of each book, she experiments with and integrates various art techniques, relying heavily on collage. Bassent enjoys immersing herself in nature: listening to birds, caring for cats, and watching flowers grow. Makkah is bustling, brimming, bursting at the seams. There are people from every country I can think of, and me.
