Children's Book Suggestions | Middle Eastern & North African Heritage Month

Celebrate Middle Eastern & North African Heritage Month with these books for older readers! (For younger readers, we have Middle Eastern & North African Picture Books list.)

Updated April 29, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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Meet Yasmin!
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn't get too big, of course! A...

A Muslim American elementary school girl gains confidence in this series of early readers. Join her friend Ali in his own Easy Reader series, Ali the Great! (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

Salma Makes a Home
Ramadan, Danny/ Bron, Anna (ILT)
Paper Book
Charming, creative Salma takes on big feelings with even bigger ideas as she navigates life in a new country, Syrian identity, family changes and new friendships in this engaging and heartfelt early chapter book series. After a year, eleven months, and six days apart, Salma's dad is...

A Syrian refugee makes a new home in Canada, expanding on her adventures in the picture book Salma the Syrian Chef. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

City of the plague god
Chadda, Sarwat
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents an adventure based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology by Sarwat Chadda, author of the Ash Mistry series. "An epic worthy of Gilgamesh. Chadda brings attention to the less well-recognized mythology of ancient Mesopotamia with engaging...

A fantasy adventure story from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint features a modern Iraqi American middle schooler immersed in a world inspired by Mesopotamian myth. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Zara's rules for record-breaking fun
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
From the beloved author of Amina's Voice comes the first book in a humor-filled middle grade series starring a young Muslim girl with an endless list of hobbies who searches for ways to maximize fun for her family and neighborhood friends. Meet Zara Saleem, the queen of...

A Muslim girl struggles with jealousy when a new girl threatens her role as the de factor leader of the neighborhood kids. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Once upon an Eid : stories of hope and joy by 15 Muslim voices
Saeed, Aisha
Audiobook

A collection of short stories set around Eid by 15 Muslim authors. A great way to try short samples of writing by a variety of authors! (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Accidental trouble magnet
Mian, Zanib
Paper Book
The first book in the exciting middle-grade series starring a Muslim boy with a huge imagination--now in paperback! Welcome to the imaginative brain of Omar! Omar and his family have just moved, and he is NOT excited about starting at a new school. What if the work...

A British Muslim kid struggles with prejudice and fitting in when his family moves to a new neighborhood in this Diary of a Wimpy Kid style hybrid graphic novel. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Yusuf Azeem is not a hero
Faruqi, Saadia
Ebook
At a time when we are all asking questions about identity, grief, and how to stand up for what is right, this book by the author of A Thousand Questions will hit home with young readers who love Hena Khan and Varian Johnson--or anyone struggling to understand recent U.S. history and how it still...

A Muslim American middle schooler grapples with belonging in his small Texas town on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Barakah Beats
Siddiqui, Maleeha
Paper Book
"This book about friendship and faith absolutely sings." -- Buzzfeed Perfect for fans of The First Rule of Punk or Save Me a Seat, this is a sweet, powerful, and joyous novel about a girl who finds her voice on her own terms. Twelve-year-old Nimra...

Attending public school for the first time, a Muslim teen girl tries to repair a fractured relationship with her non-Muslim best friend by joining a pop band despite her parents' objections. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Other words for home
Warga, Jasmine
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book! A gorgeously written, hopeful middle grade novel in verse about a young girl who must leave Syria to move to the United States, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Aisha Saeed. Jude never thought she'd be...

An award-winning novel in verse about a Syrian girl who immigrates to the US to live with relatives in Ohio when war breaks out in her homeland. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Everything sad is untrue : (a true story)
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award Christopher Award Winner Middle East Book Award Winner National Indie Bestseller NPR Best Book of the Year New York Times Best of the Year Amazon Best of the Year Booklist Editors' Choice ...

An award-winning fictionalized memoir from an Iranian American author about his experiences immigrating to Oklahoma as a young teen. His 2023 Newbery Honor Book The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams is also a great choice! (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

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...

A Palestinian American girl deals with bullying as she prepares to apply for a competitive middle school. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Grounded
Saeed, Aisha
Audiobook

Four authors tell four intertwined stories about a group of Muslim kids trapped in an airport after a storm grounds their planes, great for kids who love behind-the-scenes stories like From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The wonders we seek : thirty incredible Muslims who helped shape the world
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
In this biographical collection, with stunning portraits and illustrations by Saffa Khan, authors Saadia Faruqi and Aneesa Mumtaz highlight some of the talented Muslim physicians, musicians, athletes, poets, and more who helped make the world we know today. A brilliant surgeon heals...

A collective biography chronicling Muslim contributions to art, science, and culture. (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-12)


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