Mustafa

by Marie-Louise Gay

Boston Globe, Best 2018 Books for ChildrenTD Canadian Children's Literature Award Finalist

Mustafa and his family traveled a long way to reach their new home. Some nights Mustafa dreams about the country he used to live in, and he wakes up not knowing where he is. Then his mother takes him out to the balcony to see the moon — the same moon as in their old country. In the park, Mustafa sees ants and caterpillars and bees — they are the same, too. He encounters a “girl-with-a-cat,” who says something in a language that he can’t understand. He watches an old lady feeding birds and other children playing, but he is always looking in from the outside and he feels that he is invisible. But one day, the girl-with-the-cat beckons to him, and Mustafa begins to become part of his new world.

Marie-Louise Gay’s remarkable ability to write and illustrate from the perspective of a young child is movingly exhibited in this gentle, thoughtful story about coming to feel at home in a new country.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Cultural, Canada, Childrens, Fiction, Nature

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Marie-Louise Gay is the illustrator of many award-winning children's books. She is from Montreal, Canada.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about immigrating to a new country. The illustrations are beautiful and extend the meaning of the text. I personally enjoyed it because my grandfather learned how to speak English in a similar way. He walked home from school with a neighbor - she would point to objects and tell him the English words for each thing they saw along the way.

[Karan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Alan for this (one of four) birthday books! Wonder, did you know before you bought it that Mustafa befriends a girl with a cat? : )
Looking forward to reading it to Mustafa, Mohammad, Niveen, Ali and Mahmoud, soon.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mustafa and his family have left their (unnamed) war-torn country and have new settled into a new urban home in an unnamed country. As Mustafa ventures into a nearby park, exploring this new flowering place with green grass and leafy trees. It looks nothing like the country he left behind all gray and dusty. Then, he sees a young girl walking a cat. When she says something he doesn't understand, he runs away. Mustafa returns to explore the park some more the next day, sees the girl and her cat again, but runs away from her. Fall comes and the park turns from greens to oranges and reds, and Mustafa is surprised to see an old woman feeing birds. In his country, he remembers, there wasn't enough food for birds. Later, he hears someone playing music he knows, but no one notices Mustafa. Even though he's feeling invisible, he hides when he sees the girl and her cat again, but this time she waves for him to follow her. Soon, they are feeding the park's goldfish, swinging on swings and laughing. Finally, the girl points to herself, says her name. Understanding her, Mustafa does the same thing. This is a gentle story about the loneliness of being a refugee in the country and not knowing the language yet and how it only takes one person to make a child feel visible and welcome. The only indication of anything is that Mustafa's mother wears a hijab, but by keeping their home country and their new country unnamed, this becomes a universal story of immigration. Gay also incorporates the traumas that Mustafa and his family experienced in their war-torn country, traumas that still invade his dreams at night. Themes of friendship and empathy are nicely explored. The soft watercolor illustrations reflect Mustafa's park explorations while capturing his feelings of loneliness and isolation.

There is a great educator guide for teachers courtesy of Groundwood Book and available here.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mustafa's family moves to a new country. He misses his old country and feels lonely and sad. But his mom points out that they see the same moon. Soon he begins to explore the park near their home and sees things that are new and different...including a girl walking her cat on a leash. Slowly he begins to feel at home in a new home in a place far from where he used to live. Beautiful story and illustrations!

[Sharlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

PENDING REVIEW
4.00 - Very Good

[Dilara Inam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book speaks about immigrant life and feeling alienated, invisible and lonely. It ends in a hopeful manner when the boy mets and starts to "communicate" with the girl-with-a-cat but the reason I am giving two starts is the orientalist approach that the book was framed in. The binary oppositions were made so clear once again between "dusty, dirty, colorless" East and "fun, colorful, safe" West.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mustafa arrives in a new country after his family flees a war. With simple events and illustrations reminiscent of Peanuts, this picture book conveys a deep emotional journey over several months of Mustafa's visits to the park, where he tries to understand his new surroundings and make a friend.

[Izabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mustafa har flytt till ett annat land med sin familj för att komma undan ett krig. Varje dag går han till parken och upptäcker nya saker. Färgen på träden, myror, barn som leker. Han stöter på en flicka som säger ord han inte förstår. Men tillslut så kan de umgås ändå och de har riktigt roligt tillsammans.

[Biblioteken i Örnsköldsvik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mustafa har flytt till ett annat land med sin familj för att komma undan ett krig. Varje dag går han till parken och upptäcker nya saker. Färgen på träden, myror, barn som leker. Han stöter på en flicka som säger ord han inte förstår. Men tillslut så kan de umgås ändå och de har riktigt roligt tillsammans. //Izabelle

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story goes on a little longer than necessary to deliver the intended message, but this is still a tender story of immigration, recovery from trauma, and acceptance in a new country.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mustafa and his family had to leave their country and traveled a long way to reach their new home. Sometimes Mustafa dreams of where they used to live, dreams of fire, smoke and noise. Then his mother shows him the moon, the same moon that shines over both of their homes. Mustafa’s apartment is above a green park. In the park, Mustafa sees a girl walking a cat on a ribbon, but when she speaks he can’t understand her. The next day, Mustafa is back in the park drawing what he saw in his last home. The girl comes to draw with him and soon her butterflies and flowers overtake his burning buildings and broken trees. Mustafa keeps going to the park, but no one else approaches him. He begins to wonder if he’s invisible. Then once again the same girl sees him. They feed the fish in the fountain together and swing high side-by-side. Then they learn one another’s names.

Gay tells the story of a child refugee in way that shows the dangers and oppression of his past in ways that children will understand. He experiences them in dark dreams and in drawing his experiences and fears in the dirt. At the same time, this does not minimize his past at all. The language barriers are also fully explored here as well as the isolation that child refugees can feel in their new society. It is a book that avoids being didactic about what children should do and instead shows what a single kindness can create in another’s life.

The illustrations have a wonderful feeling of space and freedom that resonates with the story being told. They are done in pastel colors that then move on the vibrancy of autumn. Skilled use of watercolors gives a sense of motion and change on the page as well as the feeling that there are possibilities waiting to be discovered.

A warm look at welcoming refugee families to their new home. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Angeline]

In the story “Mustafa” by Marie Lousie Gay there is the personal experience of Mustafa, who migrated to a different country due to the hardship of his country and his mother just wanting a better life. Once arriving, assimilating is difficult Mustafa described himself as feeling invisible and lost waking up and having dreams of the country he used to live in…dreams full of smoke and fire. But however, on the other hand, the place he was living in was much brighter, describing it as being green, which was the antithesis of his country in his country, the tress was gray with dust. Colors are portrayed In how the two different countries are the opposites of each other. Once spoken about Mutafia's homeland, the colors are grayer and a lot darker the viewers are able to get the idea that the living conditions were inhumane and there were a lot of struggles. With the new country, everything was so bright, and the illustrator incorporated more bright colors, such as green, to show the living conditions were a lot better, such as trees being the source of oxygen. Mustafa was so curious about everything he passed by and admired everything he was unaware of.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the dedication, For Sheila Barry, I knew this book would be an emotional read. It is the story of a young boy, Mustafa, whose family have travelled a long way to come to a new country. He has nightmares about the smoke and fire and loud noises of the country they left. His mother wakes him to look at the same moon that they saw there. Then he Cavan sleep.
In his new country Mustafa explores the park beside where he lives. So much of it reminds him of his old life. He watches the world around him but feels invisible as no one seems to acknowledge his presence. Eventually a young girl and her cat befriend him and Mustafa begins to learn a new language.
It is a beautiful story, but the art is absolutely stunning. The autumn image is my absolute favourite illustration. Mustapha wonders if this is magic, and if the old lady talking to the birds is the magician. I too wish I could speak bird language.

[Ella Ghoneim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly embodies the concept of kindness. Mustafa is an immigrant who is in America fleeing a war torn country. He doesn't speak English and feels sad and lonely until Marie comes along and says hello. While Mustafa is reluctant to give her a chance, he is tired of feeling invisible and eventually responds to her. Though there is a language barrier, they still form a bond and connection that makes the ending really heart warming. The illustrations of this book are beautiful vivid colors. The changes of the season is shown as the book continues on. It gives us a good concept of time passing. Overall this is a beautiful book to read to children to teach them kindness, acceptance and being welcome.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mustafa is a young boy who has fled a war torn country. He still wakes up with nightmares but his mother soothes him back to sleep by assuring him that he is sleeping under the same moon as the in his homeland. He finally visits the local park and has many new experiences. He sees a young girl and her cat on several occasions but runs away. He watches as children run around in costumes and watches the leaves change colors. Eventually the young girl with the cat convinces Mustafa to come with her to see a pond with large gold fish. They quickly become fast friends.

A fantastic book to encourage befriending the new kid.

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnifique. A picture book from one of Canada's foremost writer and illustrator. This is a beautiful story of a young boy's journey from a war torn city to a new, foreign country where he doesn't speak the words, doesn't know anyone but his family. He feels invisible until another child takes his hand and they go exploring the park. A tale of inclusion, of empathy and of welcoming. It's beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. It doesn't explicitly state that Mustafa is from Syria but it's implied.

[Gabriela Suchecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay is an emotional book. The main character Mustafa moves to a new country with his family. He sees a different point of view of his old country. He describes his old country full of smoke and fire and in the new country he sees everything full of life. He feels invisible and lonely until he finds a friend, Maria. This story is full of emotions, new beginnings, adjustment and friendships.It shows the hardship of being an immigrant and new beginning. It is attempted for readers K-2 grade level. I would read this book in my classroom during the read aloud session.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rest of the story of the three-year-old Syrian boy who washed up on a Turkish beach—if he had lived to make it all the way to Canada with his family. Such an important tale about the refugees who seek to emerge from the cloak of invisibility (that helped them survive in their war-torn countries) and become fully visible—and alive—in their new world. Gay’s simple, well-conceived illustrations underscore the pathos of Alan Kurdi’s plight and the hope of a brighter future for all refugee children.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story told from the view point of a small boy trying to figure out a strange new land after fleeing from war. "Am I invisible," he asks his mother after watching other children play but his fears hold him back. The friendly kindness of a little girl finally breaks the ice in a charming hopeful conclusion.

I have always loved Marie-Louise Gay's illustrations and they are especially touching here in this timely tale.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Mustafa explores his new home, he discovers that some things are the same while others are very different from his war-torn homeland. He's a bit fearful of making friends since he doesn't understand the language spoken in this new place. He begins to feel a bit invisible - until one girl goes out of her way to see him and make him feel welcome - by learning his name and teaching him hers. Names are powerful - and often the first step towards friendship and feeling more at home.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful picture book that will help us to walk in the shoes of a new immigrant boy who is both enamored by this new land and dreaming of his old country. Without language he feels invisible until one girl helps him to bridge that gap until he learns to find the words. How do we welcome new people with greater compassion and understanding? This picture book is a one way to help us explore that answer.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiet, shy Mustafa has travelled a long way to live in a strange, new country. He spends lots of time in the park observing people who's language he does not understand. When he is on the brink of feeling invisible he meets a new friend. The colorful ink and water color drawings in the picture book, Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay, will draw children in to examine and understand Musafa's emotions in his time of growth and change. For ages 4 - 8

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, there's a market for picture books to read to immigrants and political refugees.

This story is written (and illustrated) with uncommon sensitivity by Marie-Louise Gay. For example:

Mustafa goes to the park every day....
He sees an old lady feeding breadcrumbs
to a whirlwind of pigeons.
In Mustafa's country, there was not enough food
to share with the birds.

FIVE STARS for this very human story with a good, solid outcome

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love the book, I am disappointed in the font chosen for the text. It is very difficult for low vision people to read. "Tie" looks like "Tic" I wish designers put more effort into incorporating text into picture books, it is so important in telling the story - font choice, size, placement, etc.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mustafa is the story about a child who has been displaced and finds himself in a place where he does not speak the language. It's clear that his new home is safer and cleaner, but he is nervous and shy. The results are that he feels invisible. I think that many people immersed in a new culture and new language go through a silent invisible phase while they gain a new identity.

[Marg Corjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Marie-Louise Gay. It is timely tale of moving to an unfamiliar place and feeling as you will never fit in. With time and the trusting innocence of childhood everyone can be made to feel welcome. Gay's humorous illustrations make this book a delight.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mustafa moves to a new country, after leaving his embroiled country behind.

Mustafa is entranced with the outside of his new country and explores the park with its many wonders and people.

Nice illustrations.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine you experience America and Fall for the first time. What wonder you would find. Mustafa moves away from his country. He is curious but shy. A young girl does not give up on making him a friend.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this picture book about a boy assimiliating into a new country and language. I liked it wasn't over night and grownups play very little role in the story. I thought it was relatable for the elementary age group

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mustafa is a young boy who has immigrated to the US. He notes all the similarities and differences between his environment in the US and in his war-torn country. He feels invisible because he feel like he can’t interact with the people around him. A young girl at the park breaks this barrier.