When Somaya and her beloved Giddo (Arabic word for grandfather) make their weekly trip to the market, Somaya is impatient to get to the tentmaker’s stall; she needs help to complete a birthday surprise for Giddo, but Giddo prefers to take his time to visit his many friends. At first Somaya is frustrated by the delay, but soon she sees the importance of checking in on friends. Like Hajj Mohammed who sells shimmery pots of ink and is sad since his son moved to a faraway land. “Good morning with roses and jasmine,” Hajj Mohammed greets them before inviting Somaya to choose a pen; Somaya bleeds a special birthday message onto paper for Giddo while he and Hajj Mohammed answer the call to prayer. Next, they visit the jeweller. All around sparkling abalone fill baskets like treasure boxes. “Good morning of sweet cream, dearest Somaya,” Mariam says as she strings together a beautiful necklace. Giddo decides to stay for tea with Mariam’s father. Somaya loves listening to their chatter as the minty tea dazzles her tongue. At last, they reach the tentmaker’s stall. Sunlight splashes through the covered roof onto the rainbow of fabrics lining both sides of the narrow alleyway. As Giddo oohs and ahhs over Ammu Safwat’s new designs, Somaya heads straight for his apprentice to get help with the final flourish of her gift to Giddo. Finally, they are on their way home where Somaya and her parents surprise Giddo with a cake and Somaya’s special gift showing Giddo, the best tentmaker of them all, that she’s now a tentmaker too!

From the bustling streets of Cairo to vibrant American neighborhoods, Dahlia Hamza Constantine weaves her Egyptian heritage into stories that bridge worlds. A former elementary school teacher turned author, she creates books that help young readers discover the magic hidden in their own communities.  

Irene Latham is an Alabama poet and author of more than twenty books for kids, including the co-authored African Town and The Cat Man of Aleppo. A childhood visit to Egypt launched a lifelong passion for Egyptian arts and artists, especially the Tentmakers of Cairo.

Basma Hosam graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo. She has illustrated over 30 books in the Middle East and internationally, and she is the author-illustrator of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature winning book Something Looking for Itself / شئ يبحث عن نفسه . Basma lives in Cairo, Egypt.