I remember very vividly library periods in my elementary school. They were favourites of mine, because yes, I was that kid, and I have very fond memories of scouring the shelves for interesting, fun, relatable reads, diving into a beanbag and reading them. But the one thing that I remember the most is that everything I read was white – the characters, their problems, even the authors that wrote them. The mandatory readings we had for almost three consecutive years involved the same characters – Biff, Chip and Kipper. And of course, their dog, Floppy.

Their adventures revolved around a magic key that sent them to places around the world – and whatever issues each book focused on were fantastical and unrelatable – and that was enjoyable, for a while. But while I love Biff, Chip and Kipper, really, and while the books were not completely devoid of other “ethnic” characters, they were never the stars of the story, and I had always felt a tinge of envy for these strange white children who got to go on adventures and had absolutely no problems similar to my own. Granted, I was 8 years old, but I did have issues, as do most children, that felt big to me at that age.

The children’s books industry is heavily white.

For Arab and Muslim children living in the West – whether it's in the U.S. or the U.K. – and whose first languages tend to be English, that kind of representation is still severely lacking in English children’s books. With Biff, Chip and Kipper dominating bookshelves, and only 1% of children’s books having characters that are black or minority ethnic, according to this UK study, the children’s books industry is heavily white. Not only is that harmful for children of color, who need representation to help them through the inevitable onslaught of “identity crises” that are forced upon them as they grow up, surrounded by people who do not look like them, and who – often – end up bullying them because of that very difference, but it also gives way to even more prejudice among these communities.

...only 1% of children’s books having characters that are black or minority ethnic, according to this UK study.

Lack of representation does not exactly excuse prejudice, but it does partially explain the reason behind why these children are then singled out and treated as outcasts. Muslim, Arab and Arab-American writers, however, are rising above these staples of the industry, telling stories that are at once child-friendly; accurately representative of minorities that are increasingly becoming not-minorities, but actually huge populations in the West; and deal with day-to-day issues that are particular to their experiences. We’ve gathered a list of 10 of these books, written by Muslim, Arab, and Arab-American writers, proving that representation matters. Scroll below to read more about them.

The Proudest Blue, Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali

An instant New York Times and Amazon bestseller, The Proudest Blue is a tale about finding strength and confidence in one’s identity in the face of discrimination. Written by the first Muslim to represent the U.S. in the Olympics for fencing, Ibtihaj Muhammad, who has also won countless medals over the years, with author S. K.Ali, the book revolves around Faizah, a young girl who on her first day at school with her sister becomes witness to hurtful comments targeting her sister’s brand new blue hijab. It tackles sisterhood, bullying and includes powerful and useful advice, specifically for children of color. Featuring beautiful, whimsical illustrations by Hatem Aly, and poetic writing, this book is one of the most impactful for Muslim, Arab-American children to read. 

You can order this book here.

 

For a long time, translation was a one way street from English to Arabic. Recently more and more Arabic books are being translated to English and other languages

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story, Aya Khalil

Egyptian-American blogger and journalist Aya Khalil writes about Kanzi, whose family – semi-autobiographically – had just recently moved from Egypt to America. On her first day at her new school, her hijabi mom shows up with a kofta sandwich (that Kanzi had forgotten on purpose), calling her habibti – and her classmates start to tease her. In a heart-warming tale, Kanzi – with her teita’s Arabic quilt, and her teacher’s support – tries to show her classmates that different languages and cultures can coexist – to make a beautiful whole, in spite of people who still try to bring her down.

I know second and third generation immigrants can relate to the story about trying to fit in while facing bigotry because their food, name, and parents’ or grandparents’ accents may sometimes stand out

“I wrote The Arabic Quilt to highlight just a few obstacles Arab American children face in the US…  I know second and third generation immigrants can relate to the story about trying to fit in while facing bigotry because their food, name, and parents’ or grandparents’ accents may sometimes stand out,” Aya tells Scene Arabia. “I hope that it can encourage teachers to always make their classroom an inclusive environment and remind parents to talk to their own kids about accepting others who do not necessarily look like them.”

You can pre-order this book - which will be officially released in February 2020 - here.

Muslim Girls Rise, Saira Mir

Featuring the true stories of 19 powerful Muslim women, including Arab-American activist Linda Sarsour and Somali-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who are blazing trails in the U.S. and beyond, Muslim Girls Rise is the definition of inspirational.

Featuring the true stories of 19 powerful Muslim women, including Arab-American activist Linda Sarsour and Somali-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who are blazing trails in the U.S. and beyond, Muslim Girls Rise is the definition of inspirational. Presenting the day-to-day lives of these women in illustrations and readable words – even though the work of some might be inaccessible to children, it excels at making it accessible – and showing the endless possibilities that are available to young Muslim girls, essentially giving them a glimpse into how it’s done.

You can order the book here.

The Little Green Drum, Taghreed Najjar

Children benefit greatly from reading about other children in different parts of the world. It helps them see that there are similarities as well as differences in the issues they face

This book’s plot unfolds in a small, unnamed Palestinian village. Samia, whose father is the mesaheraty (or as he is called here, the Dawn Waker-Upper) of the village is stuck with a tummy bug, so his daughter learns to take on his role instead, taking his iconic green drum with her. The Little Green Drum is based on a true story from the village of Lifta, Palestine, in the 1930s. “Children benefit greatly from reading about other children in different parts of the world. It helps them see that there are similarities as well as differences in the issues they face,” says Palestinian-Jordanian author Taghreed Najjar. “For a long time, translation was a one way street from English to Arabic. Recently more and more Arabic books are being translated to English and other languages,” she adds, explaining why she chose to translate her books, including this one, into English.

You can order the book here.

My Granfather’s Masbaha, Susan Daniel Fayad

Set in Lebanon, My Granfather’s Masbaha is a moral tale focusing on a young boy, Adam, who gets upset after his friends leave after a play date. His grandfather’s masbaha (prayer beads, used by Muslims) ends up relaying a message of the importance of counting his blessings. “I want to introduce [children] to a different aspect of the Arab world,” Lebanese author Fayad said, explaining why she chose the setting of Lebanon. “Although the book is set in Lebanon and involves using a masbaha, it is meant for children of all backgrounds since it evokes a universal theme of being grateful for what you have.”

You can order the book here.

Big Red Lollipop, Rukhsana Khan

Delving deep into Arab American children’s experiences and school culture, this book, written by Pakistani-Canadian author Rukhsana Khan, focuses on a young girl, Rubina, who, on her first visit to a birthday party, is forced to bring her young sister – a very Arab familial dynamic - along, which ends up isolating her from her friends. The book is also an exploration of sisterhood and the Arab family. “Children need to see themselves in the books they read! And it especially helps if the story is universal and makes everyone laugh,” Khan tells us about her book.

You can order the book here.

Eid Breakfast at Abuela’s, Mariam Saad

Eid Breakfast at Abuela’s fills the excessive gap in literature – not just children’s, but literature in general – on families that are Muslim and interfaith.

A multicultural story of an interfaith family who’s both Muslim and Latinx, Eid Breakfast at Abuela’s fills the excessive gap in literature – not just children’s, but literature in general – on families that are Muslim and interfaith. In the case of this family, Sofia and her parents visit Sofia’s Mexican grandmother for the Eid feast traditional of the holiday. The book also helps children with both Spanish and Arabic, weaving both seamlessly within its English narration. The book is written by Egyptian-American Mariam Saad, and illustrated by Chaymaa Sobhy.

You can order the book here.

P is for Palestine, Golbarg Bashi

...it was the first-ever English-language ABC story book about Palestine – so, of course, it was politicised, and accused of anti-Semitism and “brainwashing.”

This book received a lot of backlash – as well as a lot of praise – upon its release. Why? Because it was the first-ever English-language ABC story book about Palestine – so, of course, it was politicised, and accused of anti-Semitism and “brainwashing.” All of the letters in the book refer to a distinctly Palestinian icon or symbol, such as the Quds and the meftah (Key), a symbol of return for Palestinians in diaspora, but the controversy surrounded one entry in particular, “I for Intifada.” Iranian-born Dr. Golbarg Bashi, however, responded to the backlash merely by pouring more love for Palestine into her books, ending up writing a sequel, Counting Up the Olive Tree.

You can order the book here.

Counting Up the Olive Tree, Golbarg Bashi

"When the woeful woodcutter came to cut down the last olive tree
The kids cried,
'Please don’t cut our precious tree in our land yet to be free!'
. . .
Player number 1 told player number 2,
get hold of number 3
who told 4,
'we must protect the last olive tree,
all of us and some more.'

                                    Excerpt from the book.

The sequel is another rhythmic story, this time in the form of a number book, focusing around a group of Palestinian football players who are confronted with people trying to bulldoze an olive tree – the most common tree in Palestine, and what has become one of the most important symbols of Palestinian culture.

You can order the book here

Under My Hijab, Hena Khan

Celebrating the diverse beauty of a symbol that has for years been racialised, misunderstood, and at times, hated, this book asserts women’s agency and pride in wearing the hijab. Focusing on one young girl and the women in her family, who all wear it in different shapes and styles, the book introduces a much-needed narrative on the hijab among young readers – especially in the West – and that is that it is not “a tool of oppression,” as is often portrayed, but a choice and a symbol of faith and identity for many who wear it.

You can find this book here.