Dounia and the Magic Seeds, written and illustrated by Marya Zarif. Translated by Yvette Ghione. Owlkids, 2023. $21.95 ages 7 and up

 

"They set off at sunset. Dounia holds her 
grandfather's hand tight. 
"Jeddo, I'm scared," she tells him. 
"Let yourself be rocked by the sea, 
Dounia. It will be all right."
The little girl looks at the water
stretching out around them and 
musters all the courage in her heart."

Just as has happened for too many children of the world and their families, Dounia must leave her beloved home to find peace and safety elsewhere. Leaving Aleppo, Syria is heartbreaking for them. Dounia's life there has been filled with sunshine and good friends. One of the merchants tells her that the baraka seeds she is seeking for her grandmother's cheese are magical, and will keep bad luck away. Her grandmother shares a few of those seeds with her. 

When war threatens their lives, the family accepts their fate. With hope in their hearts and incredible resilience, they do what they must do. Their journey is long, leaving them with nothing but what they are wearing. As they cross the sea, Dounia remembers the seeds in her pocket. She throws one into the sea, hoping it will protect their family from harm. It works its magic and the family lands safely in Greece. They join many others at a barbed wire fence - all are waiting for safe passage and facing angry soldiers. 

This time, Dounia throws one of the baraka seeds into the warming fire. It works to encourage the migrants to enjoy music and dancing with the soldiers. When the time comes to move forward on the next part of their journey, Dounia offers her third seed to a dove. She imagines it will find them a place to call home. Where will that be? The bird lands near a blue house and a welcoming family who agree to help Dounia's grandparents with their immigration. The last of the four seeds is planted in a flowerpot given to Dounia's new friend, Rosalie. The many seeds it provides will protect both families and allow them to share their story with others. 

An author's note speaks to the resilience of the Syrian people as they find peace and laughter again, and the fact that Dounia represents the children of war whose unbreakable spirit helps them find a new free world. Ms. Zarif's story offers parents and teachers a way to encourage empathy for those whose experiences are very different from our own. All any child wants is a home, wherever that might be.