Our Favorite Day of the Year celebrates the differences in us all

If Our Favorite Day of the Year were an advertisement it was be from Benetton circa 1985.  Their ads were culturally inclusive far ahead of today’s standard. I remember their ads from that time period as really breaking the barrier in that they reflected numerous skin tones in them. The clothes were standard and not really something that I wore, but the ads grabbed your attention from the get go. Our Favorite Day of the Year has that same vibe, but looks at a modern-day classroom and how this kid’s favorite day will be different than that kid’s.

It’s Musa’s first day in kindergarten and the other three boys at his table are nothing like him. Some of the skin tones are lighter, have frizzier hair and have different features. His teacher lets him know that for show-and-tell this year they’ll be telling the class about their favorite day of the year. Over lunch it becomes apparent that the boys don’t think alike.

A couple weeks later is Musa’s big day, Eid Mubarak. His mother comes with him to class to teach the class about this very special day for Muslims. He’s grinning from ear to ear as they’re telling the kids about all of the special foods, the huge breakfast and how special it is being with family and friends. Soon after Musa’s favorite day it was time for Mo to share what brings him the most joy.

Mo comes to class with a sign that says Shanah Tovah and explains that his family is about to celebrate the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah. It’s worth nothing that both kids taught the class how to correctly say the names of their favorite day.

Moises has his favorite day and greets the kids by saying, “Feliz Navidad.” Sure the kids know Christmas, but he’s out to teach them about Las Posadas. It lasts nine days, the house is decorated festively and they open up all of the presents on the final night. Even Pi Day gets in the mix because one of the boys and his family really like math, so they celebrate 3.14 and the special things around it.

What really works about Our Favorite Day of the Year is that it doesn’t focus on just one special day. If that were the case then this would simply be another book about this or that holiday. Instead, readers get a more realistic feel about how each kid in the class feels and what they’re thinking. Just like real-life, it’s not all about you, nor is this book just about one kid. The result is a book that’s for every young reader that makes them realize that their favorite day, food or hobby might not be their friend’s. It’s possible that they might be the only one in the class that really likes it-and that is OK.

It also helps that the book doesn’t simply point out big, obvious traditions or holidays. Sure, Ramadan is listed, but the specific function of Eid Mubarak probably isn’t known. I know it wasn’t something I knew. Ditto what the purpose of Rosh Hashanah and Las Posadas.

The illustrations in Our Favorite Day of the Year are by Rahele Jomepour Bell and match the words by A. E. Ali perfectly. They’re realistically drawn and represent any characteristic, ethnic group or culture that you’d see in a western school. The soft nature of the book’s presentation means that anyone can enjoy the book and not feel that it’s centric to any one special. Per the book and the lesson it teaches to young people, we’re all in this together, so let’s appreciate what makes you special from me and I’ll do the same.

Our Favorite Day of the Year is an illustrated book about celebrating our differences-and they’re ones that you aren’t expecting.

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