The Day of Ahmad's Secret

  Author:  Florence Parry Heide

  Grade Level: 1-3

  Subject: 

  Rating:  5 stars

    "The Day of Ahmed’s Secret" by Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Guilliland is a heart-warming story.   Ahmed is a young boy about ten years old. He is unlike young ten-year-old boys that we are accustomed to.  I’m sure a lot of us have heard stories about the hardships that our parents had to go through when they were children. 

    But imagine children reading a book about a young child who spends his day working to support his family instead of going to school and playing. I think that this kind of story can have more impact on children.  

    Ahmed has a big secret to share with his family.   But as he says, “Today I have a secret, all day long my secret will be like a friend to me. Tonight I will tell it to my family, but now I have work to do in my city.” 

    That’s right, Ahmed works to help his family.  He has a donkey cart and he delivers butane gas canisters that are needed for gas stoves. This small child carries the heavy bottles from his cart up many flights of stairs. One striking quote was when Ahmed said, “I am proud that I can do this work to help my family.” 

    Ahmed’s secret is really amazing. It was not what I had expected. It made me realize how we take many things in our life for granted.   This book is well written and beautifully illustrated. It is appropriate for children ages 6-8 years old. 

Reviewed by Sr. Anna