My Friend Jamal

Publishing Details

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Physical Properties

Description

Jamal and Joseph were born in the same hospital in the same month. Now theyre best friends. The two like to play at one anothers homes. Josephs mom knows Jamal cant eat pork sausages because hes Muslim. She knows, too, that he cant have ice cream because of his eczema. Some things that happen at Jamals house are a lot different from Josephs: the food his mother prepares, the way they sit to eat, and the special clothes they sometimes wear. Jamal and Joseph like to play superheroes and cheer their favorite basketball stars. They even say theyre going to sign with the same team when they grow up. A poignant story about a childhood friendship where unfamiliar cultures meet, My Friend Jamal lets readers sample the differences and recognize the powerful bond that draws two boys together. The visuals, which marry photography and original art, are wonderfully playful and imaginative.

Reviews

The clear, full-color illustrations, a combination of photos and painted details, show the boys together, whispering in class, playing ball, sharing different foods, performing in a concert. What's great in this book in the new My Friend series is that the friendship celebrates not only connections by also rich diversity.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (06/01/2008)
The text is written in a breathless style with lots of dashes and exclamation marks to caputre the casual speech of a child. Topics mentioned are of interest to young readers... Both text and pictures project an energetic, friendly tone... A useful title for discussing friendship or the reasons for emigrating.--Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's Schoo"School Library Journal" (06/01/2008)
Topics mentioned are of interest to young readers... Both text and pictures project an energetic, friendly tone.--Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA"School Library Journal" (06/01/2008)
What's great in this book ...is that the friendship celebrates not only connections by also rich diversity.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (06/01/2008)

Author Bio

Anna McQuinn is a part-time writer whose literacy workshops often involve children and families for whom English is not their first language. Her picture books include "Lola at the Library" and "Wanda's Washing Machine." She lives in England.

Ben Frey has been an animator for internationally syndicated television shows, a screenprinter and a gallery director. This is his first book. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.