Arab American Heritage Month Booklist!
Title: The Arabic Quilt: an Immigrant Story
By: Aya Khalil
Published: 2020
Kanzi wraps herself in the beautiful Arabic quilt her teita (grandma) in Cairo gave her and writes a poem in Arabic about the quilt. Next day her teacher sees the poem and gets the entire class excited about creating a “quilt” (a paper collage) of student names in Arabic. In the end, Kanzi’s most treasured reminder of her old home provides a pathway for acceptance in her new one. Age Range: 4-7
Call Number: J Picture Khali.A
Title: Cat Man of Aleppo
By: Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha
Published: 2020
The courageous and true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who in the midst of the Syrian Civil War offered safe haven to Aleppo's abandoned cats.Age Range: 6-9
Call Number: J Picture Latha.I
Title: Wishing Upon the Same Stars
By: Jacquetta Nammar Feldman
Published: 2022
Twelve-year-old Yasmeen Khoury is unhappy that her family has moved from Detroit to San Antonio, Texas, leaving her friends and Arab Christian community behind. At school Yasmeen feels completely isolated, but she meet Carlos, and her Jewish neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, although she feels like she has to hide these friendships, especially from her father. Age Range: 8-12
Call Number: J Feldm.J
Title: Farah Rocks Fifth Grade (Farah Rocks #1)
By: Susan Muaddi Darraj
Published: 2020
Fifth-grader Farah Hajjar and her best friend Allie Liu are hoping to go to the Magnet Academy for their middle school years, instead of Harbortown Elementary/Middle School; but when a new girl starts tormenting Farah and her younger brother, Samir, she decides she can not leave Samir to face the bully alone! This is a series; there are more Farah Rocks books. Age Range: 7-10 T
Call Number: J Darra.S
Title: Halal Hot Dogs
By: Susannah Aziz
Published: 2021
An Arab-Muslim family takes turns picking out a special Jummah treat. When it's Musa's turn to pick, he always picks his favorite: halal hot dogs! Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Call Number: JPicture Aziz.S
Title: You Are My Happy
By: Hoda Kotb
Published: 2019
As mama bear and her cub cuddle together before closing their eyes for a good night’s sleep, they reflect on the everyday wonders of life that make them happy. Inspired by her own nighttime routine with her daughter, Haley Joy, Kotb creates another beautiful treasure for parents and children to enjoy together. Age Range: 2-6
Call Number: J Picture Kotb.H
Title: Cast Away: Poems for Our Times
By: Naomi Shihab Nye
Published: 2020
National Book Award Finalist, Young People’s Poet Laureate, and devoted trash-picker-upper Naomi Shihab Nye explores things we throw away in this original collection of poetry. “I couldn’t save the world, but I could pick up trash,” she says. Ms Nye is Palestinian American and some of these poems also address refugee children. Age Range: 8-12
Call Number: x811 Nye.N
Title: The Three Lucys
By: Hayan Charara
Published: 2016
A Lebanese boy named Luli gives a frank, child’s-eye view of the toll that war inflicts on families and communities in Charara’s empathic picture book debut, based on his family’s experience during the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. In early scenes, Luli describes life in his seaside home, where he revels in the company of three cats—the Lucys of the title. Age Range: 5-9
Call Number: J Picture Chara.H
Title: The Night Before Eid: a Muslim Family Story
By: Aya Khalil
Published: 2023
Celebrate the end of Ramadan with this luminous Muslim family story about faith, history, and delicious foods. On the night before Eid, it's finally time to make special sweet treats: Teita's famous ka'ak. Zain eagerly unpacks the ingredients from his grandmother's bulky suitcase: ghee from Khalo Karim, dates from Amo Girgis, and honey from Tant Tayseer--precious flavors all the way from Egypt. Age Range: 4-8
Call Number: J Picture Khali.A