The Promise

What a sweet story! Knowing this was a true story made it even better. We read this twice back to back!
The water color illustrations are beautiful and really fit with the story well.
I asked my daughter her favorite part was the family in the garden and the beautiful garden photos.

Thank you for this ARC netgalley. We really enjoyed it.

This is a moving narrative based loosely on a true story about a Muslim boy and a Jewish boy in Morocco. The story is inspiring, especially in a world where religion often divides people. This is a story of friendship and promises that last a lifetime, despite religious differences. I really enjoyed the illustrations in the book. Heartwarming and sweet!

[Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review on the book!]

The Promise
by Bridget Hodder and Fawzia Gilani Williams

The Promise is story of two friends, set during the time when there was a peaceful coexistence of Jewish and Muslims in Morocco. The story revolves around Hassan a Muslim boy and Jacob his Jewish friend in Al-Azan in Morocco.
Hassan and Jacob were best friends. They enjoyed playing together in Jacob’s family garden after school and petting each other’s pets.
They would visit each other’s home and would relish the delicious snacks and food prepared by their mothers.
Jacob’s garden was a favorite hanging spot, where even their families would enjoy refreshments in the evening. As their friendship grew day by day, Hassan and Jacob both vowed to keep the promise of taking care of the garden.
However, due to the growing violence against Jews in Europe, circumstances forced Jacob and his family to leave Morocco.
But the tender friendship that had grown over the years still nurtured in their hearts.
The Promise is a heartwarming story of the emotional ties between the two friends. A friendship that knows no boundaries, no religion or that is undeterred by any hate or war.
This book gives an account of the peaceful ties that once existed in the past between the two friends which led to the harmonious existence of both.

The power of true friendship lasts through time and distance.
Two boys who are forever friends of differing cultures and living in a small rural area of Morocco are forced apart by world events. Even after two generations they remain committed friend awaiting reunion. Very moving and reassuring that good remains in the world.
The illustrations by Cinzia Battistel are delightful, clear, imaginative, striking, and brilliantly colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and is great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Lerner Publishing Group/Kar-Ben Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

"A garden is a prayer and a promise. And a promise must be kept."

This is such a heartwarming story of friendship, love, and loyalty -- mixed with a good dash of history education, based on true events of the Jewish exodus from Spain and later from parts of Morocco. With beautiful illustrations and lovely writing, this book is so powerful in so few pages. I loved it.

This sweet story of friendship between two young boys revolves around cultivating a beautiful garden. The message is that there are are no differences where there is love. This heartwarming tale is one I'd be happy to read to my little ones.

This book warmed my crusty soul.

When I read the description of this book, I was expecting a sweet story about how different religions can still meld and get along. I wasn’t expecting how touching this friendship was. The enchanting artwork really helped me immerse myself into Jacob and Hassan’s world. I was touched by the message: while the garden lives, our friendship will never die.
A great book.