I am passionate about having my kids read books with diverse characters and viewpoints. Fortunately, we found a lot of great books for Arab American Heritage Month, which admittedly, I did not know much about before we began reading. Whether you are celebrating this month or simply want to learn more Arab culture and history, this list will help you get started.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly. I originally shared this in a 2019 roundup of my favorite picture books, and it continues to be a favorite. Asiyah is wearing a hijab to school for the first time, and her younger sister Faizah stands up for her and explains the hijab when other students ask questions. If you like this one, you’ll also love The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship, which tells Faizah’s story.
Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Tiffany Rose. This sweet book is about a boy who has a difficult time writing and getting his ideas out of paper. Fortunately, a professional writer talks to his class about the process of writing, and Abdul realizes it’s OK (and normal) to be messy while writing.
The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil and Rashin Kheiriyeh. Eid is a really important holiday in Muslim culture, and this book helps everyone to better understand it. The story focuses on a boy and his grandmother making a special treat to share with his school.
The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha, and Yuko Shimizu. I loved this true story about a man in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, who saved cats and created a sanctuary for them when others were fleeing the war there. The illustrations are wonderful.
Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz and Parwinder Singh. We learned so much about Jummah, the Friday prayer in Islam, from this book! Musa looks forward to the family treat they have each week after the Jummah prayer at the mosque and is trying to get his family halal (allowed) hot dogs from a vendor. Of course things don’t go as planned, so he has to figure out a new snack his family can eat. I loved that this book also includes a glossary of Arabic terms at the end!
The Arabic Quilt: An Immigration Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan. I got chills reading this beautiful book. Kanzi has moved with her family from Egypt to America, and she is trying to fit in. She gets embarrassed when her mom brings a kofta (ground beef and lamb) sandwich to school wearing a hijab. When she writes a poem about the Arabic quilt her grandmother gave her, Kanzi’s teacher has all of the students create a paper quilt with their names in Arabic.
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan and Merhdokht Amini. This simple book explains the colors of Islam while also exploring the religious tenets and traditions. It rhymes and is really easy to read, but the illustrations are what make this book shine. We also loved Crescent Moons and Minarets (about Islamic shapes) from the same author/illustrator duo.
In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly. If you buy ONE book for Arab American Heritage Month, make it this one. I love how it beautifully explains Islam and also makes it clear that Muslims have much in common with Christians. The illustrations are stunning and filled with people of all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities.
Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and Aaliyah Jaleel. My daughter especially loved this book and likes to point out when girls at her school are wearing their colorful hijabs. We all learned a lot about hijabs ad how there are different ways to wear them. Most importantly, the book follows strong women in different walks of life. You should probably buy this one, too.
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq by Jeannette Winter. Books about libraries and those who lose access to them always make me emotional. This true story of Alia Muhammad Baker, who helped to save thousands of books from her library in Basra, Iraq, when war broke out is SO inspiring. We had some good discussions after reading this book, too, since many people are currently banning books across the United States.
Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak. This picture book impressed me so much when it was first published in 2020. It’s about Lina, who is walking through the snow to visit her grandmother, Sitta. Because Sitta can no longer see very well, Lina thinks about ways she can describe the snow to her and realizes how it sounds. Grandparent/grandchild relationship books are so special, and this one is especially delightful.
Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi and Lea Lyon. My kids and I really enjoyed this story about Lailah, who recently moved to the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates. She is afraid to tell her classmates that she is fasting for Ramadan and decides to hide in the library rather than going to the lunchroom. Her librarian encourages her to write down her feelings, and together they figure out a way she can explain her culture and religion to others. This is such an excellent book!
Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck and Reem Madooh. In this incredible book, a father tells his three daughters his memories of Palestine, the homeland he had to leave years before. This story really makes Palestine come to life and captures the emotions of being unable to return to the country of your birth.
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe. This book is important for EVERYONE. After multiple teachers and classmates mispronounce a little girl’s name, she expresses her sadness to her mom. Fortunately, her mom takes the time to tell her that her name (and other names) are musical and have meaning. Such a great reminder that names are important!
A Girl Called Ghengis Khan: How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World-Famous Squash Player by Michelle Lord and Shehzil Malik. I had never heard of Maria Toorpakai Wazir before reading this, and as the LONG title suggests, she did in fact become a famous squash player despite all odds. My daughter especially loves stories about girls/women who enter spaces traditionally reserved for men, so this was a big hit for her.
What are your favorite books for Arab American Heritage Month? We had so much fun reading these books together, and I would love more recommendations.
