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
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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...
Halal hot dogs
Aziz, Susannah
Paper Book
Musa has the perfect idea for his special Jummah treat, but things don't go according to plan. Will Musa be able to get a yummy Jummah treat for his family? Included in USA Today's 12 books for kids to read during Ramadan! "Musa's enthusiasm for...
Arab Arab all year long!
Camper, Cathy
Paper Book
Celebrate the beauty and diversity of life in the Arab diaspora throughout the year. Yallah! From January to December, join some busy kids as they partake in traditions old and new. There's so much to do, whether it's learning to write Arabic or looking at hijab fashion sites...
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...
Farah rocks Florida
Darraj, Susan Muaddi
Ebook
When her little brother faces a lengthy stay in the hospital, Farah is sent visit her grandmother in Florida. Sitti Fayrouz doesn't speak much English, and she has lots of rules. She thinks rocks are dirty, that towels need to hang a certain way, and that hummus must be scooped from the side of the...
The Arabic quilt : an immigrant story
Khalil, Aya
Paper Book
Kanzi's family has moved from Egypt to America, and on her first day in a new school, what she wants more than anything is to fit in. Maybe that's why she forgets to take the kofta sandwich her mother has made for her lunch, but that backfires when Mama shows up at school with the sandwich. Mama...
Saffron ice cream
Kheiriyeh, Rashin
Paper Book
A joyous celebration of a girl's first family outing in a new country"With her colorful, exuberant folk-art illustrations and upbeat, friendly tone, Rashin makes a daunting cross-cultural leap seem as easy as a summer breeze." -- New York Times Book ReviewRashin is excited about her...
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
Paper Book
A father and his daughters may not be able to return home . . . but they can celebrate stories of their homeland! As bedtime approaches, three young girls eagerly await the return of their father who tells them stories of a faraway homeland--Palestine....
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...
Egyptian lullaby
Pliska, Zeena M.
Paper Book
A rich, beautifully layered ode to the great city of Cairo, Egypt, its people, and culture. Every night, my Ametti Fatma sings the sounds of Egypt to me as I fall asleep. This is the Nile, that flows through the city. ...
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...

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