Sonam lives with her mom and brothers in a small house in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her mom and older brother work to support the family. When Sonam turned seven, her brother told her she was no longer a child and needed to cover her head and work. But Sonam is only a child. So she continued to live her playful, carefree life. Then, one day, she heard a sound and followed it and met an old man. The old man introduced her to music and an instrument to play. Sonam learned music from the old man until her brother found it one day. He hid the instrument as music is forbidden in the region. After that, Sonam became unhappy and withdrawn. What happened to Sonam? Did she meet the old man again? Did she play again?

We picked this book for its beautiful cover. Though set in a war zone, the story beautifully portrays a little girl’s hope and finding solace in music. The illustrations are as poetic as the story itself.

Sonam and the Silence by Eddie Ayres is an elegantly illustrated book narrating a story of hope and faith. ( )