Saliman and the Memory Stone

"Saliman and the Memory Stone is based on the true story of a Yemeni Jewish family who emigrated to Israel in 1881, a time known as the First Aliyah. Unlike the later Yemenite Jewish migration of 1949, this migration consisted of only about 200 people, among them the ancestors of the author's friend's family. In this fictionalized version, perfect for young readers, we join six-year-old Saliman as he, with his family and community, leaves their village behind.

As all migrating children do, he must say goodbye to the familiar, but he takes a small stone from his home to remind him of all he's left, calling it his memory stone. Small enough to fit in his pocket, he holds it to his cheek at night and memories of home comfort him. Sometimes he draws images with it of his Yemeni home in the sand or on cave walls. Through all the dangerous days and nights, he holds onto this small treasure, bringing it into his new life to always remind him of his first home.

Leaving one morning at dawn, his family began walking through the Yemeni desert sandstorms, sleeping out under the stars, sometimes with so little food the family shared a single pita bread. We follow their path by ship up the Saudi Arabian coast, then by foot across Egypt and finally up the Mediterranean to the port of Jaffo, a journey that lasted from the end of one Sukkot to the beginning of the next. The journey was difficult, with hunger, thirst, illness, and poverty. But from his young point of view, the nights of singing, dancing, and poetry were joyful, and he was surrounded by the protective love of his community. Throughout, Saliman trusts they will succeed and arrive safely in Jerusalem and indeed they do. While the hope was they would find a land of milk and honey, the author's note reminds us of the struggles the community experienced when they arrived.

Ptahia, an Israeli illustrator of more than twenty children's books, created the atmosphere of Yemen over 100 years ago by using the traditional colors of Yemenite fabrics and jewelry combined with a textured brush. Readers can immerse themselves in Saliman's village and follow the map of the family's actual journey on the endpapers. Saliman and his family are dressed in their traditional conservative garments, all with head coverings. Their warm earthy skin tones are typical of the Yemeni people. The back matter includes the history of Jewish Yemeni migration to Israel, a glossary, and a recipe for kubaneh, a classic Jewish Yemenite bread.

This book's focus on migration makes it ideal for all young children, opening opportunities for discussion about the immigrant experience. In addition, this selection is perfect to enhance activities focusing on Jewish life around the world. A worthwhile choice for family reading time and all children's book collections."—Association of Jewish Libraries

"Saliman is a young boy when his family decides to emigrate from Yemen to Jerusalem as part of the First Aliyah in 1881. He takes a stone from his home’s foundation so he’ll remember where he came from. The trek is long, hot, and hard. Eventually they arrive at the golden city of Jerusalem.

The text is simple and melodic. The full-page color illustrations are bright and beautiful and make clear the love of family and the difficulties of the journey. Ages 4-7." —Historical Novel Society