Fatima's Great Outdoors

January 25, 2021
After a tough week of being teased by her American schoolmates, Fatima Khazi is looking forward to a much-needed break—her Indian family’s first camping trip (“a great American pastime,” Papa proclaims). Memory-making highlights, digitally drawn by Lewis (Lost in the Library) with reassuring sensitivity, will resonate with readers of all backgrounds: there’s a car sing-along (to Bollywood’s Mohammed Rafi), a stubborn tent (“Papa grumbled in Urdu when the pieces wouldn’t fit”), and a frightening spider. And when their campfire is the only one in the park that won’t catch (“Why did Fatima’s family always have to be so different?” the girl frets), Mama saves the day. Fatima initially dreads returning to the dissatisfactions of everyday life, including school and her parents’ long work hours, then realizes that she now has “superhero” confidence—and great material for show and tell. While the writing sometimes tells rather than shows (“The Khazies didn’t use paper plates because they were too expensive”), debut author Tariq, founder of social media initiative @BrownPeopleCamping, has created an authentic, affectionate portrait of how outdoor spaces can offer a saving grace and a sense of belonging. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Zoe Sandler, ICM Partners. Illustrator’s agent: Ed Maxwell, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc.

January 15, 2021
Fatima's first camping trip in America reminds her of life in India. After a rough week at school, feeling different from all the White American children (she and her older sister appear to be the only students of color at their school) and doing poorly on a quiz, Fatima is eager to head off to the woods with her family. Her father says camping is "a great American pastime." A spider outside their tent at night terrifies both her and her aapa, but it also reminds them of their mother's bravery, catching lizards in India and throwing them out the window. In the morning, they are eager to cook their bacon (it's beef and therefore halal), but Fatima and Papa can't get a fire going. It's Mama to the rescue again: In her small town, she had to build fires in a wood-burning stove. Fatima remembers visiting her nani's house as she watches and learns. As the Khazi family packs up for home, Fatima is sad to leave the forest behind and go back to a life filled with busy parents and an unwelcoming school. But she returns with stories to share and more adventures to look forward to. All secondary characters at school and the campground are White until a final spread shows a multiracial group holding a "Brown People Camping" banner (the author founded the movement), Fatima and her family smiling next to it. This unique take on the family camping story feels refreshing and new, with its layered inclusion of big feelings that children grapple with, from immigration and fitting in to mixed emotions about siblings. Lewis' bright illustrations are heavily influenced by her animation background. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 67.5% of actual size.) Special. (Picture book. 4-8)

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January 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 3 Fatima Khazi and her immigrant Indian family are about to experience a great American adventure--they will be going camping for the first time! Fatima needs a break from the teasing she receives at school and from math homework, and she is ready to spend more time with her busy working parents. When they arrive at Emerald State Park, the beauty of the mountains and the woods cheers her up. She proudly helps Papa erect the tent as he praises her, saying "Shabash." Mama teaches Fatima and her sister how to build a campfire and they eat a meal of shami kabab, rotis, and samosas. In the tent, the girls snuggle into their cozy sleeping bags under a beautiful night sky filled with fireflies. As the Khazi family takes photos the next day, a more confident Fatima plans to share her adventures with her class in school. Author Tariq founded @BrownPeopleCamping to help diversify outdoor spaces, and through Lewis' rich, detailed illustrations, this book celebrates Indian culture while depicting the beauty and fun of being in the wilderness.

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April 1, 2021

K-Gr 4-After a trying week of microaggressions and outright harassment from students at school and a bad grade on a math test, Fatima Khazi can't wait to get away for her family's first camping trip. On the drive to the state park, Fatima is comforted by samosas and Bollywood music, even as her older sister's achievements at school make her feel small. Tariq deftly weaves together the Khazi family's life experiences in India with the trip, by juxtaposing the parents' upbringings, and showing Fatima build confidence through camping. A four-paneled spread, in vivid cartoon style, is used at the beginning and end of the book. It reflects Fatima's feelings of distress at school and the freedom, happiness, and belonging that she finds in nature. Though the text does not explicitly name the family as Muslim, naming conventions and the family cooking halal beef bacon, provide clues to their background. The family is mentioned as Urdu-speaking; terms are not defined in the text or glossary, centering the characters of the narrative. Though the story can be read as present day, there are nods to the recent past. The last spread illustrates a group of campers with a sign "Brown People Camping" in reference to Tariq's social media initiative. VERDICT Most collections will benefit from this multilayered work of joy and validation.-Ariana Sani Hussain, The Blake School, Wayzata, MN

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