Arab Fairy Tale Feasts is the latest title in the highly acclaimed Fairy Tale Feasts series in which prominent writers of diverse cultures have created enchanting tales paired with traditional recipes easily accessible to young cooks and their families.

These magical tales, by award-winning author and master storyteller Karim Alrawi, all feature food or feasting and conclude with an iconic recipe. They are accompanied by intriguing anecdotes illuminating Arab culture and culinary traditions.

Praise for Arab Fairy Tale Feasts

“(In) this charming third installment in the Fairy Tale Feasts Collection there is much to be learned, even for readers familiar with Arab culture…An engaging literary cookbook that is a feast for the eyes, the heart, and the palate.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“Ostensibly for children aged 5 – 12, master storyteller Karim Alrawi of Vancouver has collaborated with illustrator Nahid Kazemi to produce Arab Fairy Tale Feasts (Tradewind $29.95), the third in a series following Jewish Fairy Tale Feasts (Tradewind, 2013) and Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts (Tradewind, 2015), which blend stories, recipes, fun facts and anecdotes from diverse cultures. Adults will enjoy this book too.” — BC Bookworld

“These tales beg to be read and discussed; the many and varied recipes will be fun for classroom use or for families to share…Delightfully entertaining original tales . . . accompanied by colorful illustrations. . . recipes will be fun for classroom use or for families to share.” — School Library Journal

“(The stories) draw on the rich storytelling traditions of Arab peoples. . . .(and) Kazemi’s largely unlined, stylized illustrations employ a folkloric sensibility. Ages 8–12.” — Publishers Weekly

“Fitting illustrations in a folk-art style add more flavor to this savory, multipurpose collection.” — Booklist

“Each story in Arab Fairy Tale Feasts . . . is accompanied by the whimsical illustrations of Nahid Kazemi. This book serves as a gesture of hospitality to those who want to begin to develop an appreciation of Arab culture. Read the stories and make the meals, but be sure to share both with your family or friends, or most importantly of all, with strangers.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“A very attractive book with utterly charming illustrations . . . executed in a gentle, soft-edged, deceptively simple style . . . The design of the book is stunning. . . (and) the stories are. . . skillfully told, deceptively simple. . . enough for us to know we are in the hands of a master storyteller.” — The British Columbia Review

Included as a recommended read in the 2023, TD Summer Reading Club list.

Awards

A Canadian Children’s Book Centre ‘Best Book’

Shorted for the Forest of Reading, 2023 Yellow Cedar Award.

Shorted for the Young Readers’ Choice Book Awards of British Columbia, 2023/24 Red Cedar Book Awards.

About the Contributors

Nahid Kazemi is an artist, illustrator and graphic designer. She has published many award-winning children’s books, and was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award and the 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Her recent publications include Over the Rooftops, Under the Moon and The Old Woman. She has exhibited her work around the world. Nahid lives in Montreal.

Tamam Qanembou-Zobaidi was born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem. She studied visual arts at Al-Quds University, and worked in Palestine as an actress, TV presenter and stage artist, but always had a passion for cooking. She and her husband, Sobhi al-Zobaidi, established the first Palestinian restaurant in Vancouver, the celebrated and much-loved Tamam. She lives in Vancouver with her husband and their two daughters.

Sobhi al-Zobaidi was born and raised in Palestine and grew up in a refugee camp. After studying film production and cinema at New York University, Sobhi produced a number of award-winning documentaries and short films. A songwriter and published essayist on Palestinian culture and art, he lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife, Tamam, and their two daughters.