Starred Review for Publishers Weekly

Art sings on the pages of this visual celebration of Arabic calligraphy as Rumford’s (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Sequoyah) collages of floral and geometric designs and flowing lines deftly echo Arabic language and patterns. “Writing a long sentence is like watching a soccer player in slow motion as he kicks the ball across the field, as I leave a trail of dots and loops behind me,” says narrator Ali, explaining his love of calligraphy. Spreads incorporating stamps, money and postcards reinforce the Baghdad setting and complement representational scenes, such as an intricate collage of Ali huddling under a blanket next to his cat, writing. Arabic words, translated in places, sometimes embed in the pages as part of the illustrations, even patterning Ali’s mother’s dress. Like his hero, the famed calligrapher Yakut, who wrote through the destruction of Baghdad in 1258 (“he shut out the horror and wrote glistening letters of rhythm and grace”), Ali turns to calligraphy during the bombing of Baghdad in 2003. In an eloquent ending, he discovers that while the word “war” flows easily, the pen “stubbornly resists me when I make the difficult waves and slanted staff of <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">salam—peace.” Ages 4-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Mar.)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

Gr 2-6 Ali describes how he loves soccer; "loud, parent-rattling music"; and calligraphyforming the elegant Arabic letters, pen "gliding and sweeping, leaping, dancing to the silent music in my head." His "secret hero" is Yakut, a renowned 13th-century calligrapher, and Ali tells how, when Mongols invaded Baghdad in 1258, the man fled to a high tower to shut out the violence by creating beauty, writing "glistening letters of rhythm and grace." Similarly, the boy sought solace from the missiles and bombs that fell on the city in 2003 by practicing calligraphy in his room. Since then, "one war has become another," and he continues to write, contemplating how some words, like "HARBwar," flow easily from the pen, while others, like "SALAMpeace," are more difficult to perfect. Jewel-toned illustrations done in pencil and charcoal and then computer enhanced accompany the lyrical text. Ali and his family are depicted with warmth and personality, and their interactions add intimacy to the story. Elaborately detailed designs appear throughout-intricate tile arrangements, delicate floral motifs, colorfully patterned clothing, even a backdrop that incorporates subtle images of warfare (army vehicles, helicopters, etc). Graceful lines of calligraphy flow across and are incorporated into the artwork. In addition to engendering appreciation for this art form, Rumford's book sheds light on life in war-torn Iraq and builds empathy for those caught in the crossfire. Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

ALA Booklist (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

"My name is Ali. I live in Baghdad." In just a few lines per page, a young Iraqi boy describes his favorite things: soccer, loud "parent-rattling" music, dancing, and, most of all, Arabic calligraphy: "I love to make the ink flow . . . stopping and starting, gliding and sweeping, leaping, dancing to the silent music in my head." When bombs fall on the city, Ali, inspired by his hero, Yakut, a thirteenth-century calligrapher, calms himself with his pen: "I filled my room with pages of calligraphy. I filled my mind with peace." Rumford, who has included Arabic calligraphy in previous titles, such as Calabash Cat and His Amazing Journey (2003), fills his multimedia collages with large, looping script that spells out the words and phrases that Ali writes. Many children will have questions about Arabic writing and where the individual letters stop and start, but they'll connect with Ali's first-person voice, which echoes the calligraphy's graceful rhythm and tells a simple, powerful story about a child's everyday survival and hope in wartime Baghdad.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

In her third book, Cara is on a quest to visit the centaurs, while her father tries to free her mother from the Rainbow Prison. Frustratingly little is revealed about the mysterious side characters or subplots, leaving much open for the next book. Rich in unicorn mythology, the series will continue to entice high-fantasy genre fans.

Kirkus Reviews

A boy's ingenuous voice introduces American readers to the beauty and discipline of Arabic calligraphy in this mood piece set in Baghdad. Ali directly addresses readers, explaining how much he loves playing soccer and listening to loud music, and how he loves calligraphy even more: "my pen stopping and starting, gliding and sweeping, leaping dancing to the silent music in my head." His hero is Yakut, a 13th-century calligrapher who took solace in his art amidst the Mongol invasion. Like Yakut, Ali finds comfort in practicing his letters during the turmoil that has reigned in Baghdad since 2003. Rumford's sense of design is one of the keenest in the field; he incorporates patterned papers, collage elements and, over and over, the Arabic words themselves in his dusty, desert-colored spreads. The quiet text doesn't dwell on politics or conflict, simply on one boy's desire to find peace in his own life and how he uses calligraphy as a vehicle. If it's a little short on story and none too subtle, it is nevertheless a lovely offering that provides a glimpse into a culture we need to understand. (author's note) (Picture book. 6-10)