SWANA & Arab American Books for Kids

There is joy in seeing yourself reflected in books and there is knowledge in reading other’s stories. This list is a selection of books featuring characters and cultures of Arab and other South West Asian & North African American communities.

Updated June 25, 2026
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
The book that almost rhymed
Abed, Omar
Paper Book
Every great adventure needs a hero-or two! This playful take on storytelling and equity proves that two tellers can make a rhyming tale twice as nice. What do you do with an interrupting sibling? Especially when she's stepping all over your story with wild ideas that don't...
Home away from home
Akbari, Nazneen
Paper Book
JLG Gold Standard Selection "Nurturing experiences transform a young girl's discomfort into visceral delight--for protagonist and readers alike" - Kirkus Reviews "Sweet celebration of faraway family, the beauty of culture, and the common experiences...
Farah rocks fifth grade
Darraj, Susan Muaddi
Paper Book
Farah and her best friend, Allie Liu, are getting excited to turn in their applications to the Magnet Academy, where they both hope to attend sixth grade. But when new girl Dana Denver shows up, Farah's world is turned upside down. As Dana starts bullying Farah's little brother, Samir, Farah begins...
It ain't so awful, falafel
Dumas, Firoozeh
Paper Book
Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block...for the fourth time. California's Newport Beach is her family's latest perch, and she's determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name--Cindy. It's the late 1970s, and fitting in...
Behind my doors : the story of the world's oldest library
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
Come learn about the oldest operating library in existence, which was originally founded by a Muslim woman in 859! Merhaba! Welcome! Meet Al-Qarawiyyin Library--the oldest library in the world. Do you want to see what magical treasures are behind its doors? You'll find special...
Where butterflies fill the sky : a story of immigration, family, and finding home
Marwan, Zahra
Paper Book
A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book One of NPR's Best Books of 2022 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Informational Books for Younger Readers of 2022 A School Library Journal Best Book of 2022 ...
Hope is an arrow : the story of Lebanese American poet Kahlil Gibran
McCarthy, Cory
Paper Book
A lyrical biography of Kahlil Gibran by award-winning writer Cory McCarthy, with glorious illustrations by Caldecott Honoree and two-time Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Ekua Holmes. Before Kahlil Gibran became the world's third-best-selling poet of all time, he was...
Homeland : My Father Dreams of Palestine
Moushabeck, Hannah
Ebook
As bedtime approaches, three young girls eagerly await the return of their father who tells them stories of a faraway homeland--Palestine. Through their father's memories, the Old City of Jerusalem comes to life: the sounds of juice vendors beating rhythms...
A map for Falasteen
Odeh, Maysa
Paper Book
A Kirkus Best Book of 2024 A Booklist Editors Choice 2024 A young Palestinian girl living in diaspora struggles to find her homeland on a map in this gentle and heartfelt picture book. At school, Falasteen and her classmates are tasked with finding...
Mama in Congress : Rashida Tlaib's journey to Washington
Tlaib, Rashida
Paper Book
An inspiring picture book that tells the story of Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, and her family. Perfect for readers of books that celebrate trailblazing women and social activists as well as those looking for an introduction to civic engagement and how...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.