As we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month in April, it's an excellent time to pick up one of the books on our list of Children's Books Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month. All ages from young children to teens will enjoy diving into these books.
Comment below with other new titles to help our readers diversify
their bookshelves at home and in the classroom!
• Children's Books Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month •
The story of a Palestinian family's ties to the land, and how one young girl finds a way to care for her home, even as she says goodbye.
It's 1967 in Nablus, Palestine. Oraib loves the olive trees that grow outside the refugee camp where she lives. Each harvest, she and her mama pick the small fruits and she eagerly stomp stomp stomps on them to release their golden oil. Olives have always tied her family to the land, as Oraib learns from the stories Mama tells of a home before war.
But war has come to their door once more, forcing them to flee. Even as her family is uprooted, Oraib makes a solemn promise to her beloved olive trees. She will see to it that their legacy lives on for generations to come.
Debut author-illustrator Aya Ghanameh boldly paints a tale of bitterness, hope, and the power of believing in a free and thriving future.
THESE OLIVE TREES
Written and Illustrated by Aya Ghanameh
Published by Viking Press
SEOUL FOOD
Loujain watches her beloved baba attach his feather wings and fly each morning, but her own dreams of flying face a big obstacle: only boys, not girls, are allowed to fly in her country. Yet despite the taunts of her classmates, she is determined to do it–especially because Loujain loves colors, and only by flying can she see the color-filled field of sunflowers her baba has told her about. Eventually, he agrees to teach her, and Loujain's impossible dream becomes reality–and soon other girls dare to learn to fly.
Based on the experiences of co-author Lina AlHathloul's sister, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Loujain AlHathloul, who led the successful campaign to lift Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving, this moving and gorgeously illustrated story reminds us to strive for the changes we want to see–and to never take for granted women's and girls' freedoms.
LOUJAIN DREAMS OF SUNFLOWERS
Written by Uma Mishra-Newbery and Lina Al-Hathloul and Illustrated by Rebecca Green Published by Minedition
HUDA F ARE YOU?
From the creator of the hugely popular webcomic Yes I'm Hot In This comes a graphic novel about a young American Muslim growing up and figuring out who she is.
Huda and her family just moved to Dearborn, Michigan, a small town with a big Muslim population. But Huda doesn't fit in–when everyone is Muslim, there's no Muslim clique like there was in her last town, and Huda's not a sporty hijabi or a fashionista hijabi or a gamer hijabi. She's just Huda, and she's not sure what that means. She tries on all kinds of identities and friends, but nothing fits quite right. Until she realizes she can get back to the basics.
HUDA F ARE YOU?
Written and Illustrated by Huda Fahmy
Published by Dial Books
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAMP
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
ARAB ARAB ALL YEAR LONG!
Celebrate the beauty and diversity of life in the Arab diaspora throughout the year.
Wrapping grape leaves, playing doumbek, drawing henna tattoos,
we're Arab, Arab, Arab, the whole year through!Yallah! From January to December, join some busy kids as they partake in traditions old and new. There's so much to do, whether it's learning to write Arabic or looking at hijab fashion sites while planning costumes for a local comic convention. With details as vivid as the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle perfume (made to remind Mom of Morocco), children bond with friends, honor tradition, and spend loving time with family. Accompanied by buoyant and charming illustrations, this portrait of Arab life and childhood zeal is sure to bring joy all year round. Back matter includes an extensive glossary and notes to enrich the experience for readers of any culture.
ARAB ARAB ALL YEAR LONG!
Written by Cathy Camper and Illustrated by Sawsan Chalabi
Published by Candlewick Press
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Bethany Edwards is an elementary educator as well as a reading and literacy specialist. On Biracial Bookworms, she focuses on multiracial and multicultural resources for teaching literacy skills using reading, travel, and learning multiple languages. Additionally, she offers online and self-paced courses for parents and caregivers on Biracial Bookworms Academy.
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