Release: April 1st 2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
Source: Publisher
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N
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If a magical button and a mysterious cat could transport you to the past…would you save the future?
After Jewish fifth-grader Ava and her Muslim best friend Nadeem are called hateful names at school, Ava’s Granny Buena rummages in her closet and pulls out a glittering crystal button box. It’s packed with buttons that generations of Ava’s Sephardic ancestors have cherished. With the help of Granny’s mysterious cat Sheba, Ava and Nadeem discover that a button from the button box will take them back in time. Suddenly, they are in ancient Morocco, where Nadeem’s ancestor, Prince Abdur Rahman, is running for his life. Can Ava and Nadeem help the prince escape to Spain and fulfill his destiny, creating a legendary Golden Age for Muslims, Jews and Christians?
About the Author:
Bridget Hodder, a self-described dreamer and do-gooder, began her career as an Aztec archaeologist, translating ancient documents telling the stories of people from long ago. Then she realized she had her own tales to tell. She has a History degree from Mount Holyoke College, as well as M.A.s in Archaeology and Anthropology from UCLA and Vanderbilt University, where she chairs the Research & Education Advisory Board for the Vanderbilt University Graduate School.
Fawzia Gilani was born and raised in England where she became a teacher. She is the author of many children’s books, including A Treasury of Eid Tales, and is currently working on an Islamic fairy tale series. Also she serves as an international educational consultant with a PhD in children’s literature and character development. She is a Global Representative for the International Positive Education Network and works for the Abu Dhabi Education Council. Besides, she spends her time in the United Arab Emirates, Ohio, and England with her daughter and husband. She looks forward to the day when world conflict is no more.
Harshad Marathe is an illustrator and storyteller. A graduate of the M.F.A. Illustration as Visual Essay Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, he has illustrated many books. He has backpacked all over the world on a shoestring budget, taking in many diverse experiences. He lives in India.
The Button Box Review:
“The Button Box” is a delightful middle-grade novel that touches on fantasy, time travel, and historical aspects, and I learned a lot from it.
Firstly, I appreciate the author adding so many rich details about Jewish culture and the Arabic Languages. I had no idea about Sephardic Jew or the Kufic language until I read this book. It’s always a pleasure to learn while reading a compelling story, and I learned some words like Bismillah and Sabtah.
Secondly, I adored the characters, Ava and her cousin Nadeen go on a beautiful journey when they go through their Grandma Buena’s button box. Ava is adorable in the lead, and I enjoyed how she adapted to the situation. The author beautifully adds a touch of mystery with the humming button, and I loved the time travel aspect as Ava and Nadeem get transported into another era. The story takes full swing when Ava meets Ester and their friendship over their journey.
Thirdly, I enjoyed how the author depicted the historical landmarks and events in the story. It was fun to see Ava’s reaction when she first sees the Jewish Quarter, so she learns the significance of Saffron or how their prayers have not changed over the years. I also liked how the author immersed the mystery of Abdur Rahman as the prince in the story and provided a backdrop of him in real life. Moreover, we also learned about the Jewish culture in Spain, and I loved how the author brought everything together.
Overall, “The Button Box” is a beautiful, breezy, fun, and effective middle-grade novel that a reader of any age would enjoy and learn.
