Leila Boukarim – författare

In this heartwarming picture book, a girl and her mama discover joy and friendship through the art of Bob Ross and his happy little treesRima and her mama have moved far across the world to a new home. Now, everything feels dark and gray, and Mama doesn't smile like she used to.But when Rima discovers the painter on television, everything changes. His soft voice and crunching brush inspire Rima to create art. And soon, Rima and Mama paint their own world in their new home.

Zips and Eeloo are two aliens who think they are experts in all things human, like making hummus! But they aren’t exactly the experts they claim to be. Will Zips and Eeloo have hummus after all, or just one big, mushy mess? This graphic novel is great for readers who are just beginning their graphic novel journey!In this hilarious and colourful graphic novel, readers will learn how to make hummus alongside the two alien friends. They'll clap and cheer as Zips and Eeloo look for a bowl (but get it confused with a bowling ball!), need to go to the grocery store for lemons, and eventually, make some super yummy hummus. This full-colour graphic novel also includes a recipe for hummus in the back!

A savvy little girl explains how to survive a huge family party—especially the never-ending goodbye at the end—in this cheeky and charming picture book celebration of Middle Eastern culture.What happens when you’re invited to a Middle Eastern party? A LOT! Which is why your good friend Salwa will show how to make the most of every minute and navigate those tricky parts, step by step, from the joyful Salam! when you arrive until the longest goodbye in the history of goodbyes when you’re ready to leave.

Every summer, Yasmine visits her family in Lebanon, and every Sunday, the whole family comes over for lunch. This summer Sunday, Yasmine is making the hummus! But hummus is harder to make than she expects, and Yasmine has all sorts of questions: How much garlic should she add? Is it lemon juice or vinegar? And where does the sesame flavor come from? With a little help from Baba, Yasmine mixes in a bit of this, and a bit of that … and hummus à la Yasmine is ready! But when grumpy Ammo Farouk arrives with the rest of the family, Yasmine worries — will he hate it? What if her hummus doesn’t taste like the real thing?Sundays Are for Feasts is a celebration of how meals can bring family together, and the importance of making your own traditions. Includes an author’s note, glossary of Arabic terms used in the story and a recipe for hummus!Key Text Featuresillustrationsauthor’s noterecipeglossarydefinitionsCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Based on a true family story, this inspiring picture book about the Armenian Genocide shares an often-overlooked history and honors the resilience of the Armenian people.What is it like to walk away from your home? To leave behind everything and everyone you’ve ever known? Poetic, sensitive, and based on a true family history, Lost Words follows a young Armenian boy from the day he sets out to find refuge to the day he finally finds the courage to share his story.“It is difficult to find the words to describe the type of loss a Genocide can cause to a young child. I’ve been looking for something similar for my own son. This picture book is a good start to help explain loss and raise the many questions necessary to start the conversation.”—Serj Tankian, activist, artist, and lead vocalist for System of a Down

A sweet story about passion and perseverance from the creators of Hello, Goodbye Little Island and A Warm Christmas.

Play is the key to learning. The Read + Play series of books harnesses the power of literature through the innovation of play.

Mariam's Dream follows real-life freedom dreamer Mariam Al-Shaar, known around the world for building Soufra, a women-run kitchen in the Bourj Al-Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon.This is a story about how one woman can make a huge difference.Once Mariam decides to start a food business in the refugee camp where she’s spent her whole life, she must see her dream through.She will need money.She will need the right papers.People will tell her it’s impossible.They will tell her not to risk it.But with the women of the camp behind her, she is determined to make it happen.Discover the joys of cooking, the power of community, and the flavors of Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon in this poignant story written for anyone who has ever felt walled in and dreamed of something more.“Food and words have long been an important part of Palestinian resistance. This uplifting picture book perfectly utilizes both while sharing a story of hope and liberation in the face of injustice.” —Hannah Moushabeck, award-winning author of Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine“Bravo! Mariam’s Dream teaches young readers what resilience means and works as an excellent, supportive example for kids’ own self-empowerment. At the same time, it blows apart stereotypes of subservient Arab women and the helplessness of refugees.” —Cathy Camper, award-winning author of Ten Ways to Hear Snow, Arab Arab All Year Long!, and the Lowriders series Perfect for: Parents and gift-givers seeking stories of inspirational women Educators looking for books about the refugee experience Readers eager for stories about Palestinians, their food, and their displacement around the world Anyone seeking multicultural and diverse children’s books for classroom or home library reference

At only ten years old, Halimah lost her father and her home, and made up her mind to help her mother make ends meet, no matter the cost. It was only a matter of time before Halimah's studies began to suffer, nearly getting her kicked out of school. This is the story of the girl who beat the odds, rose above her circumstances, and became Singapore's first female president.