Jordanian queen rejects offers to publish book in Hebrew

Jordan’s Queen Rania rejected offers to have her new children’s book published in Hebrew.

“The Sandwich Swap” was published in English and Arabic and launched in the United States in April. The New York Times best-seller touches on multiculturalism, openness and getting to know others. It is targeted to children aged 4 to 8.

The book’s main characters, Lily and Salma, allow the differences in their food to stand in the way of their friendship. Lily brings a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich to school, while Salma brings pita and hummus. After a food fight in which they force their classmates to take sides, the girls attend a party where the children exchange sandwiches.

During a promotional interview, the queen said the book was inspired by her own childhood. She was born into a Palestinian family and studied at an English-speaking school in Kuwait. Her mother sent her to school with pita and hummus, and Rania said she was shocked the first time she saw a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich.

According to Rania’s website, proceeds from the sale of the book will go to an organization in Jordan that is renovating 500 schools there.

The book was co-written with Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Tricia Tusa.