Synopsis
Lily and Salma are best friends. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus–but what's that between friends? It turns out, a lot. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out. Can Lily and Salma put aside their differences? Or will a sandwich come between them?- ★★★★☆
- ★★★☆☆
- ★★★★☆
- ★★★★☆
- Introduce this verse from the Quran in which Allah ﷻ tell us “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may [get to] know one another. (49:13) Why do you think Allah ﷻ asks us to “know one another”?
- Discuss friendship. Think about what you have in common with your closest friend and what makes you different.
- What could Lily have said instead of “Your sandwich looks kind of yucky.”? How would the story be different if Lily was more thoughtful about her choice of words?
- How did an exchange of words between two friends spread so quickly into an all-out war between the entire student body?
- What is a food fight? Why is it wrong?
- Why does it take courage to fix a friendship when two friends are fighting? Who took the first step—Salma or Lily?
- Did you notice how something so small between two people, like a silly comment about a sandwich, became so big between many people? What can we learn from this?
- What is the event that Salma and Lily suggested to help bring everyone together? Point out the flags near the various dishes on the table and see if you can identify which countries are represented.
- After reading, draw or describe your favorite food and share it with a friend.
Mindful Muslim Review
A friendship turns sour when two close friends share what they really think about each other’s sandwiches: yucky and gross. The girls know how much love and effort their parents put into preparing the sandwiches and the rift between them inadvertently drives a wedge between the entire student body as a food fight ensues. Ashamed and remorseful, the girls find the courage to forgive each other and then bring the whole school together to celebrate each other’s differences. This simple, well-crafted story illustrates how a careless exchange between two good friends can spiral out of control, reminding children how important it is to be mindful of their words and the consequences of not doing so. At a deeper level, this story serves as an excellent metaphor for appreciating each other’s differences. This book would be a perfect read-aloud prior to an exploration of food traditions from around the world.
