Big Red Lollipop

This book highlights differences between Arab-American,and American customs. When Rubina is invited to a birthday party, she is dismayed when her mother insists she must take her yogrunger sister. In a few years, her sister is invited to a party and Rubina convinces her mother that she should not have to take her youngest sister, delightful illustrations. ( )

This book is great for kids and families! Trying to share with siblings is a relatable struggle, so this would be book to read with younger kids. The book shares the messages of sharing and being compassionate, which I think is a wonderful message to spread with little ones! ( )

Rubina is so excited to get invited to her first birthday party by one of her classmates. Rubina gets shot down by her parents when they tell her she needs to take her little sister along with her. Rubina is so upset but agrees. At the party, the party favor to return were red lollipops that rubina absolutely loved! “Nobody takes their little sister to a birthday party!” ( )

Rubina is so excited when she's invited to a birthday party, but her mother, unfamiliar with American birthday customs, makes her take her little sister Sana along too, and Sana ruins everything - even the lollipop in the goody bag that Rubina was saving. When, a year or two later, Sana herself comes home from school with exciting news, Ami says that she has to take her sisters Rubina and Maryam along too. "Leave me out of it," Rubina says. She thinks about letting her sister repeat her own experience, but ultimately steps in to intervene on Sana's behalf. Sana is allowed to go to the party by herself, and when she returns, she has a present for Rubina - a big green lollipop.

The girls and their mother have very light brown skin; Ami wears a headscarf. ( )

I used to read this book for the children I nannied for. I thought it was a nice book teaching/sharing with siblings how the older sibling may feel when they are forced to bring along their little sibling to a gathering with friends.