Shahnaz Qayumi – författare

I will never forget that day. I was nine years old when a lady asked me, "e;Are you "e;Pashtun"e; or "e;Tajik"e;?Pashtuns and Tajiks are the predominant ethnic groups in Afghanistan and yet I did not know which group I belonged to so I answered, Afghan! I was puzzled with this strange question and, not knowing the concept of ethnicity, I rushed home to clarify this issue. I questioned my mother, Am I Pashtun or Tajik? My mother demanded that I tell her what my response was to the lady who asked me the question about my ethnicity. Afghan! I repeated my answer to my mother. My mother peered deep into my curious eyes that were waiting for the right answer and responded, You are absolutely right, you are an Afghan and nothing else . This was an important lesson because it showed me at an early age that ethnicity does not determine who we are. Underneath all our beautiful diverse attributes we should be equally respected for being human. My book, Like You and Me ,is a place for children to explore and celebrate the vast diversity in our world. As an early childhood educator and a parent, I believe that we play a significant role in developing a sense of acceptance, appreciation, and love in our children. The earlier children are exposed to diversity in a positive light the more it will help our children admire the beauty in every culture. Children are not born to be prejudiced; I ve known this since I was nine years old.

Afsana Seesana is a very famous Afghan folk nursery rhyme. (In the Dari language, the word "e;afsana"e; means story). A rhyme associates words with similar sounds using a rhyming couplet or short verse and is often short and easy to remember. When people weren't able to read and write, a rhyme was verbally passed from generation to generation. In the past, literature was often written for children to learn the moral values of human relationships. In this context, Afsana Seesana promotes the magic of giving. In this book, children are encouraged to share their food, with the consequence of giving being divine blessing. In Afghan culture, sharing and giving is culturally and traditionally fostered from a very young age, which makes the sharing skill embedded in the hearts and souls of all Afghans. If you have a little or a lot or you are poor or rich, still you must share. Sharing is not only fostered in respect to food but also spaces, materials, and objects. Afsana Seesana is a fast-paced, dynamic, and joyful book, providing opportunities for cognitive development as children learn about the sequence of events, different professions, language development, semantics and syntax, and most of all the emotional and social skills of sharing. It is hoped that the lesson of this story will foster the internal satisfaction of positive behavior in children.