Tomorrow – Nadine Kaadan, Lantana Publishing, (9781911373438), 2018
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5
Genre: Picture books
What did you like about the book? Yazan used to go to the park, he used to ride his bike, he used to paint pictures with his mother but things have changed; now his mother watches the television news with the sound turned up loud and his father makes lots of phone calls. Simple, stark, gloomy and dark watercolor and pencil illustrations show Yazan’s empty world where he is not even allowed to go outside. It is not safe. There is a war on. This is Syria and it is the present day. As the author tells us, many Syrian children are living a life like Yazan’s, waiting and hoping for a better, happier tomorrow.
Anything you did not like about the book? Not a thing.
To whom would you recommend this book? Though the story and the tone are dark and gloomy, it is nevertheless important to let children know that some children may well be living a very different from theirs. A teacher reading this to her class could initiate discussion.
Who should buy this book? Public libraries and day-cares that have parenting sections
Where would you shelve it? Picture books or Parenting books
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? It is a very unique story with captivating illustrations and quite necessary given the political climate in which we live in 2018.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Moderator, Youth Services Book Review
Date of review: 7/5/2018
Youth Services Book Review 
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