It is READ PALESTINE WEEK!
I had the honor and joy of collaborating with Palestinian KidLit creatives last week for an IG Live discussing the significance of Palestinian KidLit, especially now.
The conversation partners were:
Hannah Moushabeck, Omar Abed and Susannah Aziz.
Following the event, Susannah Aziz curated a list of book recommendations. She is a third generation Palestinian-American Muslim children's book author, librarian and former teacher living in New York City. While reading to her own children, she often felt that humor was missing in Islamic children's literature...so one day, she decided to pick up a pen and write her own stories! Susannah aims to depict the lives of average Muslim children in her work: fun loving and full of delight!
List of Traditional and Independently Published Titles recommended by Susannah Aziz:
Baba, What Does My Name Mean? A Journey to Palestine By Rifk Ebeid @rifkebeid
Fa for Falasteen By Good Rain Publishing @goodrainpublishing
Farah Rocks Fifth Grade (book series) By Susan Muaddi Darraj @susandarraj
Halal Hot Dogs By Susannah Aziz
@librarycatnyc
Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine By Hannah Moushabeck @hannahmoushabeck
Hookah Girl By Marguerite Dabaie @mdabaie
Ida in the Middle By Nora Lester Murad @nora_lester_murad
Mama in Congress: Rashida Tlaib's Journey to Washington By Rashida and Adam Tlaib @rashidatlaib
My Garden Over Gaza By Sarah Musa
Olive Harvest in Palestine By Wafa Shami @palestineinadish
Other Words for Home By Jasmine Warga
Salim's Soccer Ball: A Story of Palestinian Resistance By Tala El-Fahmawi @tala.loves.books
Sitti's Bird: A Gaza Story By Malak Mattar @malakmattarart
Sitti's Olive Trees By Ndaa Hassan
@ndaahassan
Sitti's Secrets By Naomi Shihab Nye
@naomishihabnye
Sitti's Key By Sahar Khader Ali
@sahar_khader_ali
Something More By Jackie Khalilieh
@jackiekhalilieh
Squire By Nadia Shammas & Sara Alfageeh
@nadiashammas
The Book that Almost Rhymed By Omar Abed
@omarabedwrites
The Olive Tree Said to Me By Naif Salem
@zaytoonpublishing
These Olive Trees By Aya Ghanemeh
@ayaillustrates
We are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition By Reem Kassis
@reem.kassis
Please share this list far and wide with friends and co-learners. Do follow these brilliant creatives on social media and amplify their work.
All these books make wonderful holiday season and teacher gifts! We hope you’ll request copies wherever you access books. One recommended source is the Books for Palestine bookstore:
bookshop.org/shop/booksforPalestine
For the joy of sharing book love,
Desibookaunty
Just put a whole bunch on hold at the library. Thank you!