Mustafa

In Mustafa, Marie-Louise Gay uses her signature style to further capture the wonderment children find in the natural world around them. Carefully and with sensitivity, Gay is able to depict what it means for a child to leave a war-torn country behind in order to call a new location home. The cityscape represented in the book is reminiscent of many urban Canadian cities. With Mustafa’s story, Gay captures the activities that children enjoy within city parks. Through her whimsical illustrations and insightful and expressive prose, Gay effortlessly depicts a child’s life in a captivating natural world embedded within an urban landscape.

Mustafa is fascinated by life in the park below his apartment building. He observes plants and bugs and notes the similarities to the ones he had seen in the home he had to leave behind. He also notes differences he sees, like the cats that are “skinny and wild” back home compared to a cat being walked on a ribbon by a girl he eventually befriends at the park. Mustafa is fascinated by the place he comes to live in, especially in the “magic” way the leaves turn colours in autumn. He connects to life in the park, but, because of language barriers, he initially finds himself feeling invisible. Through their shared love for endless fascinating park activities Mustafa and Maria (the girl with the ribboned cat) eventually become friends.

Children of all backgrounds will be able to relate to Mustafa as he navigates his new home. From feeling invisible because of language barriers, to making a new friend, children will develop a sense of empathy with children who are trying to gain a sense of home and belonging in a new country. The universal themes of home, friendship, and belonging will resonate with readers of all ages.