This story is about a boy named Ahmed who lives in Cairo. He has a secret to share with his family but works all day long and must wait to share it with them. This book gives a great depiction of what a boy in Cairo does; he works. He rides a donkey cart up crowded streets making deliveries. He describes the sights and sounds and it gives you a feeling of what it might be like to live in Cairo. Ahmed finally reaches home and shares his secret. The secret is that Ahmed knows how to write his name. The cultural discussion that can be made after reading this picture book should include the children's role in the home. For example, in Ahmed's culture, he works all day and practices writing his name at home after work. In the reader's culture, the children might practice writing their name at school where they are all day. It is a little of a role reversal. After reading, it would also be beneficial to look through the pictures and compare the cities. Ahmeds' city of Cairo looks to have an open market on the street and still utilizes a donkey for transportation. It is also very close to the desert and the climate there might be different from the reader's hometown. This book gives a lot of insight into the life a child in Cairo.
Book cover copied from http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrensImages/isbn/large/6/9780688140236.jpg
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