ZAMZAM FOR EVERYONE

Wanting to find a way to do good during Hajj, a young Muslim child shares water with fellow pilgrims from all over the world.

Mariam, Mama, and Dad are among the millions embarking on Hajj, the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca). Mama says, “Hajj is a time to do good, share, and be thankful.” Brainstorming ways to do good, Mariam thinks of the perfect idea: sharing Zamzam—water from an ancient, blessed well of the same name—with others. With each cup of water Mariam distributes, the young protagonist learns ways to express thanks in different languages and samples delicious foods like syrupy koeksisters from South Africa and Indonesian pandan cookies shared in return, each as unique as the pilgrims Mariam meets. But will Mariam have enough Zamzam for everyone? Gutta explores a potentially lesser-known pillar of Islam with text that both educates and entertains. Dawoud’s digital collage illustrations perfectly capture the essence of Hajj—the crowds, the awe-inspiring rituals, and the camaraderie that comes from sharing such an important spiritual event—all while portraying the cultural diversity of its attendees in a broad range of skin tones and physical abilities. Mariam is brown-skinned, though the child’s ethnic identity isn’t mentioned. The backmatter reinforces learning with the story of the Zamzam Well, information on Hajj, and more.

A meaningful and heartwarming tale that shares lessons of goodwill, generosity, and gratitude.