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)

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.
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Paper Book
Now in paperback, a joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling authors Aisha Saeed and S. K. Ali Eid! The short, single syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it's waking up to the...

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)

The magical reality of Nadia
Yūsuf, Bāsim
Paper Book
Inspired by the author's real life experiences, this rollicking, charming novel follows sixth grade Egyptian immigrant Nadia as she navigates the ups and downs of friendships, racism, and some magic, too! Nadia loves fun facts. Here are a few about her: * She collects bobbleheads -- she...

A souvenir from a trip to Cairo introduces an Egyptian American tween to a magical world inspired by Egyptian history and mythology. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Yusuf Azeem is not a hero
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
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...

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)

The secret diary of Mona Hasan
Hussain, Salma (Young adult fiction writer)
Paper Book
Mona learns to find her voice over the course of a year that sees her immigrating from Dubai to Canada in this novel for fans of Front Desk by Kelly Yang. Mona Hasan is a young Muslim girl growing up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when the first Gulf War breaks out in...

An Emirati middle schooler chronicles her move from Dubai to Canada during the first Gulf War in this diary-style novel that mixes the ordinary drama of being a teen girl with a major historical event. (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)

Nayra and the Djinn. [online electronic book]
Ata, Lasmin Omar
Ebook
In this coming-of-age graphic novel with a fantastical twist, Nayra Mansour, a Muslim American girl, is helped on her journey to selfhood by a djinn. Nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour. There's the constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless bullying from her...

A bullied Muslim American girl befriends a djinn in an online chatroom and gets drawn into a world of magic inspired by Islamic folklore. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

The wonders we seek. [online electronic book]
Faruqi, Saadia.
Ebook
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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