Children's Book Suggestions | Middle Eastern & North African Heritage Month 2025

Celebrate Middle Eastern & North African Heritage Month with these books featuring a variety of the region's cultures. To find more books, view last year's picture book and chapter book lists.

Updated March 14, 2025
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Looking for the Eid moon
Abaza, Sahtinay
Paper Book
Sara can't wait for Eid, the Muslim holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. It's a wonderful holiday with festive decorations, special foods, and family and friends getting together. But Eid won't begin until the crescent moon is spotted.

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Esma Farouk, lost in the Souk
Boersen, Lisa
Paper Book
Esma is excited to be visiting family in Morocco for the summer. She can't wait to explore the souk -- a giant market full of incredible acrobats, delicious-smelling spices, and cheeky monkeys. But while Esma is being charmed by swaying snakes, she loses track of Mama and Auntie Fatima. Esma is...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

My olive tree
Elbayya, Hazar
Paper Book
In this simple, touching picture book about the healing power of a loving community, a girl's grandpa and her neighbors help her grow an olive tree in a war-torn land. A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Salam's grandpa says that olive trees are strong and that...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Memory garden
Ghahremani, Zohreh
Paper Book
A lively afternoon together in Nana's garden is full of laughter, discovery, and connection. In lyrical text that blends past and present, Memory Garden takes us to the places we leave behind but never forget. Written and illustrated by a loving mother daughter duo, the nostalgic...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The boldest white : a story of hijab and community
Muhammad, Ibtihaj
Paper Book
In this call to bravery from Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, Faizah learns to overcome her fears and stand in front of the crowd in this beautiful celebration of family, fencing, and community.   Faizah loves being part of the community at her mosque, and...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The Last Pomegranate
Nakhaei, F.
"A sweetly satisfying holiday tale of generosity and compassion." - Kirkus Review "This wintry tale will lead readers to develop an understanding of multicultural holiday traditions as well as to learn the practice of everyday philanthropy." - School Library Journal<...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Drawn onward
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
In this enthralling and emotional palindrome picture book by Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother embarks on a lushly fantastical adventure that illuminates what remains when our loved ones are gone. All alone He was not so brave... ...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

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...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Sister friend
Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah
Paper Book
Ameena feels invisible. It's been that way since she started at her new school. But now there is another new girl in class. Ameena sees her brownness and her hijab, even though the other kids do not. Ameena wants to be her friend, but she can't seem to find the right words or do the right things....

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Sami's special gift : an Eid al-adha story
Yuksel, M. O.
Paper Book
It's Eid al-Adha, and Sami wants to celebrate. But this year is different after his grandfather's passing. A touching picture book about kindness towards others. Sami worries that the Eid al-Adha carnival won't be as fun without Dede (his grandfather), who died recently. Sami's...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The month of Ramadan
Inda Ahmad Zahri
Explore Ramadan through the eyes of a child in this graceful and authentic story that illuminates the sense of belonging that this month of fasting, prayer, and reflection brings. This month is different from the others. It starts with the sighting of a new crescent moon. 'Slow down, be kind to...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Salma joins the team
Ramadan, Ahmad Danny
Paper Book
Moving across the world was Salma's first big adventure. Now you can join her on even more adventures in her new home--from cooking Syrian food, to becoming a big sister, and more! Book Three: Salma Joins the Team Salma dreams of becoming a champion swimmer like her hero, Olympian...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Safiyyah's war
Khan, Hiba Noor
Paper Book
Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, this breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage stars an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget. "A riveting read for children and adults alike." -...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

The queen of Ocean Parkway
Tash, Sarvenaz
Paper Book
An 11-year-old podcaster-turned-sleuth teams up with the new kid in the building to find their missing neighbor! A captivating adventure perfect for fans of When You Reach Me and Only Murders in the Building. Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent's kid in...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

A strange thing happened in Cherry Hall
Warga, Jasmine
Paper Book
From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of A Rover's Story and Other Words for Home comes an extraordinary story about two friends, a ghost, a missing painting, and a turtle named Agatha. The perfect next read for fans of The Swifts, Kate DiCamillo, and Erin...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Shiny misfits
Zayid, Maysoon
Paper Book
Bay Ann doesn't think she's a star--she knows it! Now how does she prove it to the rest of the world? This is a hilarious graphic novel about friendship, fame, and fighting for control of your own story, perfect for fans of Nat Enough, Click, and Invisible. Bay...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Daughters of the lamp
Lewers, Nedda
Paper Book
Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this stunning middle grade fantasy debut about a girl who becomes the guardian of Ali Baba's legendary treasure. Believe in fairy tales. Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Kareem between
Safadi, Shifa Saltagi
Paper Book
**WINNER of the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for Young People's Literature** This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle school. "The exact type of book I...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Almost sunset
Algarmi, Wahab
Paper Book
In a contemporary middle grade graphic novel debut that Gene Luen Yang calls "funny, endearing, and an intimate look at a Muslim family," Almost Sunset follows a young Muslim American boy during Ramadan as he finds the balance between his family traditions and his secular middle school life....

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Rumi : poet of joy and love
Kheiriyeh, Rashin
Paper Book
"Enthralling" -Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Kheiriyeh transforms a distant and revered figure into a warm, bright focal point in this biography" -School Library Journal, starred review "Be a friend to everyone." Rumi's words are needed now...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 4-8)

The one & only Googoosh : Iran's beloved superstar
Westergaard, Azadeh
Paper Book
A celebration of one of Iran's most iconic musical artists. The legendary Iranian singer and actress Googoosh (born Faegheh Atashin) made her stage debut at age two while performing alongside her acrobat father. By the time she reached adulthood, she was widely considered to be...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 4-8)


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