Lalla lives in the Muslim country of Mauritania, and more than anything, she wants to wear a malafa, the colorful cloth Mauritanian women, like her mama and big sister, wear to cover their heads and clothes in public. But it is not until Lalla realizes that a malafa is not just worn to show a woman's beauty and mystery or to honor tradition—a malafa for faith—that Lalla's mother agrees to slip a long cloth as blue as the ink in the Qur'an over Lalla's head, under her arm, and round and round her body. Then together, they pray.
“This book incorporates authentic cultural details in both the poetic text and the evocative illustrations… [A] lovely original story.” Review by School Library Journal
