by Seemi Aziz, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
As I looked into Palestinian experiences in children’s literature, I discovered many significant examples. These examples speak to broader issues of displacement, refugees and oppression. These topics/issues are prevalent in the global sociopolitical atmosphere presently, more so now with the two ongoing wars: Ukraine/Russia and Palestine/Israel. If we research and go into depth on both these conflicts and wars, we come away with multiple ways of understanding the conflicts and realize that there is no one easy explanation that pigeonholes the conflicts.
The examples of children’s literature that I explore in this post shed light on Palestinian perspectives on the current conflict through a recent memoir and several nonfiction books. By combining these powerful examples of fiction and nonfiction, readers come away with new understandings.
Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck and Reem Madooh (2023) is based on the memories of Moushabeck’s family about their lives in Jerusalem, Palestine. This picturebook focuses on the life and impact of her grandfather who was highly respected in that community before 1947. The family is from Palestine but most importantly they are not Muslims, but Christians. This story is of love and respect that each Abrahamic religion has for each other and how close they were to each other as a community.
Three girls wait for their father before bedtime, hoping for stories of the far away land that is made tangible through those narratives. The stories of the family’s life in the Old City, Jerusalem, become integral to their identities as they grow up, even though they have never been there. The high point is when their father shows the girls the key to their house in Palestine. As a child, their father visited his grandparents every summer and has nostalgic memories of those times.
While his grandmother spoiled him with food and love, his grandfather (Sido), a stern looking man, was always busy with serious matters. He was called Mukhtar as he was the head of the community. The grandparents owned a restaurant which welcomed everyone and was an exchange of strong voices and ideas. This café is where he took the girls’ father during his visits. On the way, their father observes the unity among all people living in the community with no distinction of religion. As they hear the Muslim call to prayers, they simultaneously hear church bells. Sido shows him how he can train released homing pigeons to do tricks, assuring their father that the pigeons will return home. The pigeons become a metaphor for Palestinians all over the world who dream of their homes and a way back home. The backmatter and end papers are beautifully created with original family pictures and an author’s note. The end papers are initially in black and white and then in full color at the conclusion to indicate movement from darkness to light.
Reem Madooh creates expressive illustrations to frame this story. With its visual and verbal content, this story seems like a love letter to home, family and the hope of a people that transcends borders. The book carries a universal message of immigration, loss and the dream of returning to one’s roots. This tale is especially attractive due to the inter-generational connections. As true for most books from this region, Reem does not indicate who or what is responsible for their predicament.
These next two books focus on nonfiction that provides context for the fiction picturebooks. I deal with them individually as well as collectively as both books address history and current context. I recommend the use of both texts as a paired text set so that the readers come away with a more in-depth view of culture and history.
We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition by Reem Kassis and Noha Eilouti (2023) explains and explores Palestine through its culture, food, music, famous people and above all its geography and history. This book celebrates the indigenous heritage of Palestine. Reem Kassis provides an in-depth exploration of the land and its peoples. Noha Eilouti creates colorful art that reinforces the written content. The flow of the book is such that reader’s attention is not lost at any point. Every page and issue are explained in a child-friendly manner. This book is easily accessible, inspirational and visually spectacular.
This captivating text speaks about the conflicts over time and references influential people. Kassis and Eilouti include poets, artists and authors, giving a more wholistic view of the land and its people. They further explain the historical event of Al Nakba, in which 750,000 people were displaced between 1947-49 with no current pathway toward a return, and the significance of displaced families having a key to their homes.
Reem Kassis is a Palestinian American writer and author. She studied business and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. and chose a writing career to preserve her traditions. Noha Eilouti is a Palestinian Canadian illustrator and visual development artist, with a BS in Multimedia Design from the American University of Sharjah, UAE. This book was a Bookstagang Best Book for 2023.
A Kid’s Book about Israel and Palestine by Reza Aslan (2024) is the most recent nonfiction narrative published on this topic. Like Kassis’s book, this book deals with information and the current reality. The content is conveyed in a stark manner but is very readable for children with large and straightforward text. There are relevant questions as a backmatter. Aslan is a renowned author of religious texts who is greatly respected in his field.
These nonfiction books work together when researching the present-day conflict, while asking for more research on both sides. We always need counternarratives to question any event or narrative.
As I conclude these posts, I believe we come away with the realization that current global conflicts often have multiple political and geographical reasons and that the impact on individual people and families needs to be explored by delving deeply into the issues.
The following are several sites and other books that speak to the topic for further research.
Websites:
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San Francisco Public Library — Exploring Palestine: Children’s Books for Understanding the World
Goodreads suggested list on children’s and YA books about Palestine
Teach Palestine
Palestinian Children’s Books through Amazon
Worlds of Words Center database of children’s and YA books about Palestine
Books:
The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine. Miko Peled, the son and grandson of Israeli generals, shares his perspective on the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Baddawi. Leila Abdelrazaq’s book is about how younger Palestinians in the diaspora understand their homeland and traumatic events through their elders’ recollections.
Gaza Writes Back: Short Stories from Young Writers in Gaza, Palestine. This anthology, edited by Refaat Alareer, features short stories from young writers in Gaza who have experienced Israel’s blockade and siege.
Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story. Palestinian artist Malak Mattar’s story is about a young girl in Gaza who finds hope through painting.
A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search for Home. A young Palestinian girl living in diaspora struggles to find her homeland on a map in this gentle and heartfelt picturebook by Maysa Odeh and Aliaa Betawi.
A Journey of Hope: A Palestinian Child’s Tale. This book by Abu Ryan Dardir is designed to help parents discuss what is happening in Palestine with their young children.
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- Themes: A Journey of Hope: A Palestinian Child's Tale, A Kid's Book about Israel and Palestine, A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child's Search for Home, Abu Ryan Dardir, Aliaa Betawi, Baddawi, Gaza Writes Back: Short Stories from Young Writers in Gaza, Hannah Moushabeck, Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine, Leila Abdelrazaq, Malak Mattar, Maysa Odeh, Miko Peled, Noha Eilouti, Palestine, Reem Kassis, Reem Madooh, Reza Aslan, Seemi Aziz, Sitti's Bird: A Gaza Story, The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine, We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition
- Descriptors: Books & Resources, WOW Currents