By Bailey Keimig-Gehrke, Youth Services
April is Arab American Heritage Month, a national celebration that recognizes the achievements and contributions of Arab Americans. The following stories all highlight Arab characters and culture, as well as the universal connections all people have with one another. As with all picture books, these stories can lead to deeper conversations with the young readers in your life. The act of reading and talking about stories is such an effective way to encourage children to think more deeply about the people and the world around them. This not only helps foster empathy and understanding, but also helps build important background knowledge about the world. Over time, this knowledge will help children comprehend new stories, information, and vocabulary as they continue learning throughout their lives.
“Eleven Words for Love”
by Randa Abdel-Fattah &
Maxine Beneba Clarke
This deceptively simple story introduces readers to 11 Arabic expressions of love, while the illustrations tell a bittersweet story of a Palestinian family seeking refuge. The story begins with the phrase: There are eleven words for love, and my family knows them all. What follows on each spread is a word written in Arabic along with the English translation, and each expression of love is described in poetic, relatable detail. For example, the Arabic phrase al-Wud is described as the “sunshine-warm friendship that grows and glows after two people meet.” The illustrations on this spread shows one student warmly welcoming a shy-looking newbie to their school. Love between sisters, neighbors, people and their pets, people and their homeland, and more are all mentioned here. Readers of all ages and backgrounds will find something to relate to in the pages of this touching story.
“Salma the Syrian Chef”
by Danny Ramadan & Anna Bron
Salma and her mother are Muslim refugees from Syria that live in Canada. Salma’s mother fills her days with English lessons and job interviews, while Salma makes friends and practices English at the Vancouver Welcome Center. Salma’s papa has not been able to join them in Canada yet, which makes Salma and her mother sad. Salma also knows her mother misses their home in Syria, so she tries to think of ways to cheer her up. Silly faces? Funny jokes? Drawing pictures of home? Nothing seems to work, but then Salma has an idea. She could cook her mother a familiar Syrian dish to bring her the joy she used to feel at home. With the help of her new friends at the Welcome Center, Salma carries out this special act of love for her mother. This is a heart-warming about the importance of community and what it means to feel at home.
“In My Mosque”
by M.O. Yuksel & Hatem Aly
This story is all about a little boy and the community and traditions he enjoys in his mosque. The vibrant illustrations help the joy and love shine through as readers are introduced to all of the activity taking place in the mosque. From helping set up prayer mats, to listening to words of wisdom from faith leaders, to admiring the colorful hijabs of his aunties, the little boy takes us through his time in the mosque with upbeat gratitude. Readers with their own faiths, traditions, and houses of worship will find much to relate to inside this story, and those who are unfamiliar with the specifics of what goes on inside a mosque will feel more informed.
For more picture books to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, try:
