A Lemon for Safiya

By: Jemima Shafei-Ongu
Illustrated by: Nisaluk Chantanakom
Genre: YBLN - Early years: first experiences
Published by: Lothian Children's Books
Published: 28 May 2025
ISBN: 9780734422224

Description

When a little girl, Safiya, and her family help Maryam, a lost and confused stranger by the side of the road, to find her way home, they begin to understand who she is and the rich and remarkable life she has lived. Through kind-natured Safiya, we come to see Maryam, a woman who had been made invisible by society because of her ethnicity, race, religion, language, age and now dementia.

With Arabic text interspersed throughout, A Lemon for Safiya is a wonderful exploration of language, diversity and culture.