Rukhsana Khan, Elisa Carbone and Uma Krishnaswami,
Many Windows: Six kids, Five Faiths, One Community
Napoleon Publishing, 2008

Rating: G*

Many Windows is a collection of short stories, sensitively written and focusing on six classmates of different faiths and cultures, sharing friendship and a love of basketball. Each story is one student’s personal experience, yet they are tied together as the classmates relate to each other. Their teacher, Mrs. Williams, with her philosophy of creating a "no-put-down zone" in the classroom, also plays an important role in their relationships.

Each story stands alone and provides some enlightenment into different faiths, cultures and their important celebrations. One tale centres on the friendship between Deepa and Bani as they celebrate Diwali. Another highlights a surprise while Stephanie and her friends help to serve food at the soup kitchen on Christmas Day. The story where Benjamin plays a game of dreidels with his aging grandmother thoughtfully gives insight into some Jewish traditions. The final five stories explain the five faiths - Buddha’s Birthday, Ramadan, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.

Intriguing and told from the young character’s point of view, these stories should appeal to the beginning chapter book reader. The subject matter can be used as a source of reference and discussion throughout the year as various celebrations occur. This text should prove a useful addition to an elementary school library collection.

Thematic Links: Friendship; Community; Culture; Religion

Carolyn Cutt
Vol. 14, number 3
February 2009

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.