Bábo

Bábo A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day By: Astrid Kamalyan / Illustrated by: Anait Semirdzhyan Join Tato and her family as they help Bábo (grandmother) on rug-washing day, in this sweet and playful picture book tribute to Armenian cultural traditions. Little Tato sneaks a few cherry plums before racing off to help Bábo—her grandmother—with a favorite chore. Each year Tato looks forward to washing the family rugs. With bubbles and suds floating like clouds and snowflakes, Tato and her siblings help Bábo scrub the rugs clean.  With lively text and vivid illustrations, Astrid Kamalyan brings her charming childhood memories to life by inviting young readers to spend a day full of fun and love with an Armenian family. "A book you just want to hug!" —Carrie Kruck, author of What Francine Found "Kamalyan's distinct language dances across the page with rhyming words tossed throughout the story. Her playful words describe, entertain, and engage all the senses. You feel the cold water, the frothy soap, and scrubbing brushes. Expressive faces and fun-loving play match text and illustration into this high-spirited book. Colorful, lovely Armenian rugs dry on stone walls. "Read it again," will be a frequent refrain." —Joan Schoettler, author of The Honey Jar Listen to an interview with author, Astrid Kamalyan If you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: Abuelita and I Make Flan The One Day House [TABS] Videos Look Inside Downloadables Download the Cover Download the Activity Kit Author & Illustrator Astrid Kamalyan, author Astrid Kamalyan comes from a big, happy family and is the oldest of five. She spent most of her childhood in Armenia. As a child, she wished she could one day paint the beautiful mountains of Artsakh. Now she paints with words and writes for the most important people in the world—kids. Astrid holds an MBA degree from the American University of Armenia. She currently shares her time between Chicago and Yerevan, Armenia. Read more about Astrid. Anait Semirdzhyan, illustrator Anait Semirdzhyan is an illustrator with a passion for children’s books. She grew up in a multicultural family and has lived in several countries with diverse cultures. Now she lives in the Seattle area with her husband and twin daughters. Anait enjoys afternoon walks with her four-legged shaggy friend. Read more about Anait. Awards & Honors A New York Public Library Best Book of 2023 A Bookstagang Best Future Classic of 2023 Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024 Editorial Reviews Kirkus Reviews, starred review Tato, a young Armenian child, eagerly awaits rug-washing day. As Tato gathers with siblings and neighbors outside under the watchful eye of Bábo (grandma), the space transforms into a lively playground where the children wash rugs. The book captures the essence of childhood, depicting the sheer thrill of jumping, scrubbing, and playing with bubbles and water. With compelling descriptions and inspired metaphors, young Tato paints a vivid picture of textures, smells, and sights. “Bounce clouds!” “Snowflakes!” squeals Tato as a sudsy foam forms. Tato is bigger and more mature since the last rug-washing day and gets to prove it by helping out when the chickens get loose. Cultural elements are seamlessly woven throughout the book, from the significance of a wedding gift rug to the apricot pie that delights the hardworking children at the end of the day. The intricate, vibrant rugs pop in the beautiful, earth-toned illustrations. Filled with action and dramatic angles, the art brings this tale to life and adds whimsy to the text. Armenian words in the Artsakh dialect are interspersed and explained in a glossary. In an author’s note, Kamalyan discusses how her own grandmother and her experiences growing up in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, inspired this story. An enchanting celebration of heritage and childhood joy. (about Armenian carpet-weaving tradition) The Horn Book, starred review A young girl describes a beloved summertime-tradition for her Armenian-family. Guided by Bábo, or Grandmother, four children jump into action to “soak, soap, and wash” their treasured family rugs. The three sibling and a neighbor know exactly what to do: they gather their brushes, smother the rugs in bubbles and water, and brush the suds out before flipping the rugs over for a second cleaning. The kids and a dog twirl, slide, and dance together over the frothy surfaces. When at last the rugs are rinsed and drying, everyone goes inside for a special summertime treat. The text invites every sense to the experience: the sounds of the brushes (“bop-bop-bop”), the smell of the hot air (“like rose jam”), and the feeling of bubbles under toes (“so pleasant and just a little cold”). The digitally rendered illustrations are lively and full of specificity; occasional aerial views show the intricate details of the traditional hand-woven rugs. A glossary provides translations and pronunciations of Artsakh Armenian words peppered through the text; the author’s note and back matter provide more information about this story and the traditions behind it. A lovely reminder that fun can be found in the most seemingly mundane of tasks. Publishers Weekly, starred review Seldom has a domestic chore looked as irresistible as rug-washing does in Kamalyan’s buoyant family tale. The outdoor ritual takes place under the watchful eye of grandmother Bábo as, “on the sunlit street... we will soak, soap, and wash the rugs.” There, Tato the narrator, along with siblings and a neighbor, all portrayed with pale skin, make a game around textiles spread out for their annual cleaning. Once the soapy rugs have been jumped on and scrubbed, “Swoosh. We glide./ Swoosh. Droplets splash..../We twirl. Bubbles pop-pop-pop.” More about the heirlooms is revealed: as they work on “Mom’s favorite rug,” a sibling explains that it was a wedding gift from Grandpa. Semirdzhyan’s lively illustrations, digitally rendered to mimic pencil and watercolor, retain a looseness in keeping with action-oriented text as the work leads to satisfaction: “We all bit into sunny apricot pie. Powdered sugar flies.” A glossary, author’s note, and more about Armenian carpet-weaving conclude. Ages 3–7. Children's Literature Who knew that chores could actually be a lot of fun? In this lively picture book, a young girl, Tato, is excited to help with her family’s annual carpet cleaning. From Armenian tradition, these rugs aren’t just any ordinary floor coverings, but are prized possessions that can take weavers months or even years to create. The carpets must be thoroughly washed, a process which involves scrubbing and gliding, brushing and stomping, and plenty of spraying and splashing, too. The rug must be covered in soap and soaked thoroughly, and it takes the combined work of Tato and several other kids to make it happen. They delight in the work, making it into a frolicking, rollicking game. The children’s grandmother, Baba, is there to direct them through every step and to keep everyone on task- more or less! Children will enjoy jumping along with the engaging, action-filled illustrations and descriptions. The intricate artistry of the carpets themselves are also on full display. Other cultural details are woven in as well, such as various Armenian vocabulary words. Readers will have a lot of fun with this story while also learning about a sentimental cultural symbol. Details Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-62354-358-7 Ages: 3–7 Page count: 32 10 x 8 [/TABS]