Dedie King

Habiba is a girl in Afghanistan bringing us through a day in her life. The reader gets a glimpse into the everyday chores of the culture as well as the conditions caused by the climate of war. Habiba's cousins and aunt and uncle are to join them, seeking refuge because they lost their house due to war. Habiba ponders if so many can live in their small house, but she comes to the conclusion that they are all strong and they will make it work.

This is a beautiful window into the culture of the people in Afghanistan. The cut out images that work to create the illustrations really help to paint a picture of what a day in this lifestyle might really feel like.… (meer)

I enjoyed this book because I liked the main idea of the story and the plot. The main purpose of this story was to expose readers to culture in Myanmar and Buddhism. The plot of the story takes place over one day and is composed of the daily life of a young girl living in Myanmar. The book exposes readers to the daily rituals that the girl practices and experiences such as gathering jasmine flowers for buddha's altar in her home, giving gifts to the monks as they practice their daily alms walk, and preparing special tea for visitors. I also liked how at the end of the story there was a brief history about the country and a glossary of terms. I also liked how the book was written in English as well as Burmese. I feel that even as an adult, I was able to benefit and learn from reading this text.… (meer)

I See the Sun in Afghanistan
By Dedie King, Illustrations by Judith Inglese
2011, Satya House Publications
Review by Debra L Scott, 12/14/2011

A young girl, Habiba, walks through her day in a small village in Afghanistan. There is no war or conflict here, just normal life. Habiba does her chores, goes to school, and runs errands like children all over the world. This area is relatively isolated from the problems Afghanistan has faced elsewhere, and a bit more liberal minded, so the young reader will find some common ground here. The first person narrative writing has some very lovely moments like the passage below.

“The cool air tingles my face and bare arms as I step outside. I see the milky glow of dawn over the compound wall. I hear the lambs softly bleating their mothers awake. The doves coo in answer. The early morning sounds fill me with fresh hope for the day. “

The book is written bilingually, in English and in Dari (Afghan Farsi), so could be read by speakers of either language. Even for English only speakers, the beautiful farsi script is interesting to look at. Children who love hearing about other cultures will find the book delightful, and perhaps those of Afghani descent will enjoy a book that shows their children what life was like for them or their ancestors from this region. At the end of the book is a glossary of terms that would be unfamiliar to most American children. There is also a very interesting section that tells about the region of Bamiyan, and why it is an area that allows girls to attend school, and why it has stayed relatively uninvolved with the war.… (meer)

I See the Sun in China
By Dedie King, Illustrations by Judith Inglese
2010, Satya House Publications
Review by Debra L Scott, 12/14/2011

A young girl from a rural farming in China takes a trip to the modern bustling city of Shanghai to visit her aunt. City life is very different from her quiet country life. The sun is obscured by the dense fog, the buildings are so tall they hurt her neck trying to look at them, and compares the jobs and life in her village with city life and the sharp business atmosphere. The first person narrative writing has some very lovely moments like the passage below.

“At dawn, sunshine fingers slip through my window and tickle my face. “ (waking up in the village)
“In the twilight the lights inside the buildings shine like hundreds of tiny suns.” (watching the sunset in Shanghai)

“Each book in the I See the Sun series tries to portray a feeling of the essential cultural elements of a country in a clear and simple way.” (Publisher’s note) The book is written bilingually, in English and Mandarin Chinese, so could be read by speakers of either language. Even for English only speakers, the mysterious Chinese characters are interesting to look at. Children who love hearing about other cultures will find the book delightful, and perhaps those of Chinese descent will enjoy a book that shows their children what life is like now in the People’s Republic of China. At the end of the book is a glossary of terms that would be unfamiliar to most American children. There is also a very interesting section that tells about Chinese culture, and how they live in the midst of constant change and enterprise while holding on to very traditional values.… (meer)