DEI Booklists: Arab American Heritage

Bana's mother tells her of the strong bana tree that grows in their homeland, Syria, and how Bana's strength helped her survive war, being a refugee, and starting fresh in a new country (OPAC).

A young girl describes a visit to see her grandmother in a Palestinian village on the West Bank (OPAC).

"The villagers are afraid of the 'Ghoul.' For years, they've tiptoed around the village for fear of disturbing it. The monster doesn't look like them, and it is believed to eat humans. One day, the brave Hassan embarks on a dangerous mission to face the long-feared Ghoul" (OCLC).

During the Iraq War of 2003, librarian Alia Muhammad saves thirty thousand new and old books in her Basra library from destruction (OPAC).

Now that she is ten, Lailah is delighted that she can fast during the month of Ramadan like her family and her friends in Abu Dhabi, but finding a way to explain to her teacher and classmates in Atlanta is a challenge until she gets some good advice from the librarian, Mrs. Scrabble (OPAC).

"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" (OPAC).

"In this picture book, a young girl and her family are forced to flee their village to escape the civil war that has engulfed Syria and make their way toward freedom in Europe" (publisher).

In this Palestinian folktale, "A childless woman's prayers are answered by the arrival of a talking pot, but the new mother knows that Little Pot must learn right from wrong just like any child" (OPAC).

"Newcomer Salma and friends cook up a heartwarming dish to cheer up Mama" (publisher).

A biography of architect Zaha Hadid, who grew up in Baghdad and went on to design buildings all over the world (OPAC).

A biography of mathematician and scientist Ibn al-Haytham, specially known for his work on light and vision (OPAC).

"Award-winning writer and master storyteller Karim Alrawi draws on his deep knowledge of Arab culture in creating these enchanting tales that are a feast for young imaginations" (publisher).

"Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors" (publisher).

"Jude never thought she'd be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives" (publisher).

When Aref, a third-grader who lives in Muscat, Oman, refuses to pack his suitcase and prepare to move to Michigan, his mother asks for help from his grandfather, his Siddi, who takes Aref around the country, storing up memories he can carry with him to a new home (OPAC).

"Fifth-grader Farah Hajjar and her best friend Allie Liu are hoping to go to the Magnet Academy for their middle school years... but when new girl Dana Denver starts tormenting Farah and her younger brother, Samir, she decides she can not leave Samir to face the bully alone" (OPAC).

"Omar and his younger brother Hassan live in a refugee camp, and when an opportunity for Omar to get an education comes along, he must decide between going to school every day or caring for his nonverbal brother in this intimate and touching portrayal of family and daily life in a refugee camp" (publisher).

Retells twenty-one Middle Eastern tales by Seljuq satirist Nasruddin (OPAC).