Bábo

I love this book for so many reasons: first, it's a delight to see a book about Armenian culture that's not about the genocide. As important as that is to write about, Armenian kids need to see other aspects of their culture. Second, Armenian language is woven into the story effortlessly; it won't slow down readers who don't know the language. Third, I can see readers from other nearby cultures relating. My Arab neighbors clean rugs in much the same way! And fourth, the story and pictures are just fun, so even kids who've never experienced rug-cleaning like this will enjoy the book. I think this would be great in storytime!

Go for this beautiful heartfelt book for the information about the Armenian Carpet weaving tradition and the beautiful story reflecting the family/community bond over the carpet washing day!

You will enjoy the writing, the fun illustrations and the lively characters!

Thank you, Charlesbridge, for the advance reading copy.

This beautiful picture book is full of joy. The author based this on her childhood experiences, and the book provides a glimpse into Armenian culture and includes some bilingual elements. This will appeal to kids who share the author's background, which is almost never acknowledged or represented in books, and is a great way to introduce other people to common experiences for traditional Armenian families.

I love that the author based this book on her own childhood experiences! The cultural aspects of it, from the language to the way it portrays aspects of family community and life is such a lovely thing to read. I think this is wonderful book that will allow Armenian children to see their culture reflected to them through literature from an early age, and it also provides accessible representation of Armenian stories to a larger demographic as well.

What a sweet story! My only complaint is that it seemed a bit long and repetitive and didn't keep my son's attention very well. I'm sure for older kids (4+) it would be easier to pay attention)

This was a cute story, and I like how the author weaved some of the playful elements in with their culture and rugs. The illustrations were beautiful. It came with helpful cultural notes, and included authentic language, which makes it a nice addition. It's a nice length for storytimes.

Effortlessly weaving both the culture and language of Armenia, Astrid Kamalyan’s Bábo is a serene depiction of the traditions and love shared by a family on rug washing day. With words and sounds bouncing along each page, the story takes on a near-lyrical rhythm. No matter how involved or overwhelming the process becomes, Anait Semirdzhyan’s water color-inspired illustrations cast each moment in a light of tranquility and togetherness. Earning appreciation for family and heritage, Bábo deserves a place on the shelves of any seeking to broaden their horizons or those who hope to find their way back home.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An absolutely adorable book that is such a lovely nod to childhood memories. As a part of the Armenian diaspora, I love this representation and will absolutely be grabbing this for our home library. The story is emphasized by extra sweet illustrations

"Bábo" focuses on a beautiful family tradition of cleaning the rugs with their grandmother. The text is playful and emphasizes the fun that the children are having while cleaning. Because this was a new tradition for me, I wished the book had started with more context and grounded the story in the family and location before starting on cleaning the rugs. I also wish there had been more illustrations and descriptions of the intricate details of the rugs. I hope to see more books about Armenian culture and traditions in bookstores soon!

This is an epic summer book because of all the sensory experience associated with washing the rugs, the water, the scent and feel of the air, the apricot pie. It's a grandma and family love letter and remembrance, that I think readers can map on to their own summer family experiences and love for their grandparents. And readers get to learn about Armenian rugs and Armenian culture, which I do not see often represented in English language picture books.

Bábo is the Armenian word for grandma, and this book is about Tato helping her grandma and the whole family do the yearly rug cleaning. It's a tradition in their household, and the neighbors, too! This was a fun look into one of the traditions of a less-well-known (in my area, at least) culture of Armenia. What a fun way to learn a little about another culture for our kids! Loved the fun illustrations!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced review copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review on the book!

Bábo-A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day is a unique and creative book about one family’s deep-rooted traditions. If washing rugs could ever be considered fun, this book certainly explains why! Thoughtful and culturally accurate, this book is surprisingly fun. Children will learn about another culture through the book, the glossary, and the author’s note. A beautifully unique book!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. I really enjoyed this look into this Armenian tradition, complete with phrases and food customs.

A lovely slice of life sort of read for anyone who wants to learn more about other cultures. The story felt very cozy and just brought back many of my own memories from childhood. I especially loved reading about the author's experiences and how they inspired the book. I just wish it had a recipe for some of the foods mentioned as they sounded great.

Thank you to the author, Charlesbridge Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this children's book that shows some of the traditions and culture of Armenia, most of which were unknown and some of which were unthinkable to the kids I read this with. Using very sweet illustrations, the book exposes children to a different way of life, of seeing things and the importance that extended family can have. Highly recommend!

A fun story about chores. But it's also deeper than that. It's about traditions and culture and keeping both a live. And also making chores fun for littles who may not want to do them.

It's true that many hands make light work, but I've never seen children so excited to perform a chore.
Rug washing day is here, and that means sloshing back and forth in the sudsy foam, then taking a break for some yummy treats. I love how a cumbersome task is turned into a party-like gathering, and it's wonderful seeing families spend time together.

The author's fine tale is perfectly complimented by Astrid Kamalyan's wonderful illustrations.

There are a few pages at the end of the book with a glossary, a story of the author's own Bábo (grandmother), and a description of the years-long process of creating an Armenian rug.

What a fun and informative book!

I rarely found Armenian stories, and this one is very interesting. From this part of the world, I never imagine what other children do. But the author washed rugs with her grandma in her childhood, and she depicts it very nicely. What older generations left for us is precious, and the new generations might not experience it. So in the form of story, this is a nice reminder of happy childhood.

Bábo: A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day is a story that shares a wonderful family event, a tradition and a culture. Bábo or grandmother in Armenian heads up rug-washing day. The children look forward to spending the day jumping, sliding, gliding and washing the rugs from the house. It is a family affair that is fun, yet also completes an important job. The rugs have been passed down from previous generations and need to be washed carefully and properly. With lively text and vivid illustrations, Astrid Kamalyan brings her charming childhood memories to life by inviting young readers to spend a day full of fun and love with an Armenian family.

This story is a celebration of family, culture, tradition and summer in an Armenian home. The text was well written with some words highlighted that were sounds or other sensory terms. It gave the book a bit of a fun and whimsical feel. The illustrations were amazing. Anait Semirdzhyan pulled us right into the story with the vivid, action packed and emotive illustrations. A wonderful story illustrating multi-generational homes and activities, as well as the love of family and a tradition that the author grew up with. There are a few words in Armenian (Artsakh dialect) sprinkled throughout the book and there is a glossary at the back, although it was easy to figure them out from context. There is also a description of Armenian Carpet-Weaving that I found interesting.