Amina loves bananas, science, and all things yellow! Moving from Syria to Indiana, Amina creates a four-step formula for making friends in the United States. But things don’t go the way she was hoping. Students make fan of her English, and she doesn’t understand some of the phrases that are puns. Like, “Don’t Worry, I Don’t Bite,” and “Spill the Beans” about her recipe. Can Amina make friends and figure out the language differences?

The plot is cute and will remind readers of Amelia Bedelia. The characters are humorous, likeable, and engaging. The problems Amina deals with are relatable. Readers who like humor, friendship stories, and books about trying to fit in will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 4 stars, Grades 1 to 3

I enjoyed the realistic nature of this story. It is a great example of a student starting school in a new country and wanting to fit in. It includes all the challenges that come with that transition including, language, friendships, clothing, and food. Informative and feel good story that introduces several characters in addition to the main character, Amina. This will be a nice series to add to my diverse collection.