This book is an excellent choice for the study of multicultural issues in elementary school. Ahmed is a boy who lives in Cairo, Egypt and he uses a donkey cart to deliver cans of fuel. He is proud of the fact that he can handle the donkey by himself and carry the cans up the stairs unaided. The story is a chronology of one of his days delivering his goods. He recites the people he sees every day as well as the sights and sounds of the streets of Cairo. The time setting appears to be in the 1950's or 1960's. There are cars on the streets and they appear to be of that age. Ahmed and his father also briefly discuss the desert and the Nile River, the two geographical features that make Egypt what it is. This day is also a bit special for Ahmed, for when the day is done, he reveals the exciting news that he has been saving for his family, the fact that he can write his name. Ahmed is simultaneously an ordinary and extraordinary Arab boy, just like all other boys around the world. Children of other cultures will learn much from reading about him.

A young Egyptian boy describes the city of Cairo as he goes about his daily work and waits for the evening to share a special surprise with his family.

Ahmed has a secret, and all day long his secret will be like a friend to him.
Tonight he will tell it to his family, but first he has work to do. Throughout
the bustling city of Cairo, Ahmed rides his donkey cart - up streets crowded
with cars and camels, down alleyways filled with merchants' stalls, past
buildings a thousand years old. The sights and sound of his city fill the day,
and when at last his work is done and Ahmed hurries home, young readers will be
as excited to hear his secret as Ahmed is to tell it.

Ahmed has a secret, and all day long his secret will be like a friend to him.
Tonight he will tell it to his family, but first he has work to do. Throughout
the bustling city of Cairo, Ahmed rides his donkey cart - up streets crowded
with cars and camels, down alleyways filled with merchants' stalls, past
buildings a thousand years old. The sights and sound of his city fill the day,
and when at last his work is done and Ahmed hurries home, young readers will be
as excited to hear his secret as Ahmed is to tell it.

This story is about a little boy named Ahmed who lives and works in the city of Cairo, Egypt. Throughout the story we follow Ahmed around the city as he sells goods and does his daily chores. Everyone knows Ahmed and is very friendly towards him. I love that this book gives some insight into the lives of people in other countries. Especially, countries like Egypt, where many Americans may have negative views. This book would be particularly great at showing children the stark differences and surprisingly similarity between kids in Egypt and kids where they live.

At the end of the story, Ahmed shows his parents his secret: that he had learned to write his name. Children can relate to the excitement of earning something new as well. ( )