Salma the Syrian Chef  Published March 2020 by Annick Press, written by Danny Ramadan.

Awards
  • Joint winner, Kirkus Best Books List 2020
  • Joint winner, 101 Great Books for Kids, Evanston Public Library 2020
  • Joint winner, Middle East Book Award 2020
  • Nominated, Blue Spruce Award, OLA 2021
  • Joint winner, Best Books of the Year List, School Library Journal 2020
  • Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre 2020
  • Joint winner, Best Books of 2020, CBC 2020
  • Nominated, Notable Children’s Books, ALSC 2021
  • Joint winner, Best Bets List, Top Ten, Ontario Library Association 2021
  • Short-listed, Foreword Indies Award 2021
  • Joint winner, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2021 2021
  • Short-listed, Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize 2021
  • Joint winner, Nautilus Award 2021
  • Short-listed, Next Generation INDIE Book Award 2021
  • Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Award, BC Young Readers’ Choice Award 2021
  • Winner, Foreword Reviews INDIES, Silver 2020
  • Chocolate Lily Award finalist, BC Young Readers’ Choice Award
  • Cybils Awards Best Picture Book nomination


Newcomer Salma and friends cook up a heartwarming dish to cheer up Mama.

All Salma wants is to make her mama smile again. Between English classes, job interviews, and missing Papa back in Syria, Mama always seems busy or sad. A homemade Syrian meal might cheer her up, but Salma doesn’t know the recipe, or what to call the vegetables in English, or where to find the right spices! Luckily, the staff and other newcomers at the Welcome Center are happy to lend a hand—and a sprinkle of sumac. With creativity, determination, and charm, Salma brings her new friends together to show Mama that even though things aren’t perfect, there is cause for hope and celebration. 




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