Amira feels conflicted when Eid falls on her school’s picture day. Can she celebrate the holiday and be part of her class picture? A sweet and charmingly illustrated story. Recommended for ages 6–9.
Published on Monroe County Public Library, Indiana - mcpl.info (https://mcpl.info)
Arab American Experiences
Picture Books and Younger Elementary
Arab Arab All Year Long!
(Juvenile Nonfiction – J 305.8927 Cam)
A poetic and beautifully illustrated ode to Arab peoples, customs, and experiences. Recommended for ages 6–9.
The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story
(Juvenile Picture Books – Ej Kha)
Though Kanzi faces discrimination at school, she finds that her favorite quilt, made by her grandmother, is able to build bridges with her classmates. Recommended for ages 6–9.
Banana Dream
(Juvenile Picture Books – Ej Nas)
Mooz, an Iraqi boy, discovers the importance of bananas as a symbol in both Iraq and his own family. Recommended for ages 3–6.
Eleven Words for Love: A Journey through Arabic Expressions of Love
(Juvenile Picture Books – Ej Abd)
This book is dedicated to eleven Arabic words for love and the meanings they hold for one Palestinian family as they leave their home. A moving and beautifully illustrated story about the refugee experience. Recommended for ages 3–6.
Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine
(Juvenile Nonfiction – J 956.94 Mou)
Every evening, three young girls wait for their father to come home and share stories of life in Palestine. A heartwarming look at Palestine at the beginning of the century. Recommended for ages 6–9.
Nour’s Secret Library
(Juvenile Picture Books – Ej Tar)
While taking shelter from the civil war gripping Syria, Nour and Amir create a hidden library that preserves pieces of the history of Damascus. Based on a true story. Recommended for ages 6–9.
Sadiq and the Newspaper Problem
(Juvenile First Chapter – J-FC Nuurali)
Sadiq is excited to be a reporter at his school newspaper club, but what will he do when the editor-in-chief is less interested in news than embarrassing people? Recommended for ages 6–9.
Salma the Syrian Chef
(Juvenile Picture Books – Ej Ram)
After moving to Vancouver with her mother, Salma uses cooking to bring her mother a taste of their Syrian home again. A heartwarming homage to community and Syrian culture. Recommended for ages 3–6.
Older Elementary
Amazing Women of the Middle East: 25 Stories from Ancient Times to Present Day
(Juvenile Nonfiction – J 920 Tar)
A collection of short biographies of Middle Eastern women from across history, from ancient queens to Nobel Peace Prize winners. Recommended for ages 9–12.
Daughters of the Lamp
(Juvenile Fiction – J Lewers)
12-year-old Sahara has never really believed in magic—that is, until she learns that she is next in line to guard Ali Baba’s treasure. Excellent for fans of the Percy Jackson series. Recommended for ages 9–12.
Escape from Aleppo
(Juvenile Fiction – J Senzai)
It’s Nadia’s 12th birthday, but her celebration is interrupted by the start of the Arab Spring. A powerful story about the experiences of escaping civil war and one family’s journey to safety. Recommended for ages 9–12.
Farah Rocks Fifth Grade
(Juvenile Fiction – J Darraj)
Farah is pulled between going to a prestigious middle school with her best friend and staying at her current school to protect her younger brother from bullies. Can she find a way to do both without hurting those closest to her? Recommended for ages 9–12.
The Magical Reality of Nadia
(Juvenile Fiction – J Yusuf)
To win a competition to design an exhibit in a local museum, Nadia has to overcome bullying while uncovering the secrets hidden within an ancient amulet. A lively and heartfelt illustrated novel about overcoming prejudice with friendship and empathy. Recommended for ages 9–12.
Other Words for Home
(Juvenile Fiction – J Warga)
After moving from Syria to Cincinnati with her mother, Jude is forced to navigate a life full of surprises, from new friends to new and unexpected identities. A moving story in verse of identity, loved ones, and self-discovery. Recommended for ages 9–12.
Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria
(Juvenile Fiction – J Jreije)
Shad Hadid is a 12-year-old with a love of baking and a hidden talent for alchemy, with which he earns an invitation to study at the illustrious Alexandria Academy. A humorous, adventurous, and moving ode to Lebanese culture. Recommended for ages 9–12.
Tagging Freedom
(Juvenile Fiction – J Roumani)
Samira is anxious to fit in at school, but her plans are disrupted when her cousin, a graffiti artist from Syria, moves in with her family. A powerful story about the intersections of art, war, and activism. Recommended for ages 9–12.