Purchase to Support Our Program

“Yasmine attempts to make hummus…Yasmine is excited to help prepare for the big family gathering, until Jiddo (Arabic for Grandfather) gives Yasmine the job of making hummus. The child’s never done that before. Plus, Yasmine, who didn’t grow up here like Baba (Yasmine’s father) did, can’t speak Arabic as well as the rest of the family. What if everyone is disappointed?…Yasmine’s nervousness when the hummus doesn’t come out just like Baba’s will resonate with many children who haven’t grown up in their parents’ homelands, but Baba’s empowering reassurance (“It’s yours. Hummus à la Yasmine!”) affirms the value of the protagonist’s unique contribution…A winsome ode to Middle Eastern food and families.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Sundays Are for Feasts

Written by Leila Boukarim
Illustrated by Ruaida Mannaa
Published by Groundwood Books

Every summer, Yasmine visits her family in Lebanon, and every Sunday, the whole family comes over for lunch. This summer Sunday, Yasmine is making the hummus!
But hummus is harder to make than she expects, and Yasmine has all sorts of questions: How much garlic should she add? Is it lemon juice or vinegar? And where does the sesame flavor come from? With a little help from Baba, Yasmine mixes in a bit of this, and a bit of that … and hummus à la Yasmine is ready! But when grumpy Ammo Farouk arrives with the rest of the family, Yasmine worries — will he hate it? What if her hummus doesn’t taste like the real thing?

Sundays Are for Feasts is a celebration of how meals can bring family together, and the importance of making your own traditions. Includes an author’s note, glossary of Arabic terms used in the story and a recipe for hummus!

Primary ISBN: 9781773069074
Publication Date: February 2025
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 03 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Lebanon

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.