Tomorrow Bily’s class will be celebrating Harmony Day. His teacher explained it is a day to celebrate our diverse cultures and traditions. Billy loved Harmony Day, the colours, the music, the traditional clothes, but best of all Billy loved the food. This year Billy wanted to share his Lebanese culture’s food.
Billy’s Tayta (grandma) was happy to help and will even use her ‘secret’ ingredients. While she sets about cooking a special Lebanese biscuit kaak, Billy searched for the secret ingredient and even a recipe! Tatya explains she doesn’t a recipe when you cook from your heart but still, wondered Billy, what was the secret ingredient?
The kaak biscuits lovingly made were perfect and Billy was keen to share them. His teacher loved them and asked for the recipe, but Billy tells her ‘I can’t. You need my Tayta’s ‘secret ingredient’.
Each double-page watercolour spread is colourful and alive with interest and activity. You can almost smell the freshly cooked kaak and cannot miss the special bond between Billy and his Tayta. The endpapers are a further reflection and celebration of Lebanese culture.
Harmony Day in Australia is celebrated annually on March 21st. It coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day celebrates Australia's cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.
NCACL Cultural Diversity Database
