Bibliography: Middle East Books for Kids

The Flag of Childhood: Poems from the Middle East
by Naomi Shihab Nye, ISBN: 0689851723 Purchase this Book
Reading level: Ages 4-8,

From the book description: "In this stirring anthology of sixty poems from the Middle East, honored anthologist Naomi Shihab Nye welcomes us to this lush, vivid world and beckons us to explore. Eloquent pieces from Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere open windows into the hearts and souls of people we usually meet only on the nightly news. What we see when we look through these windows is the love of family, friends, and for the Earth, the daily occurrences of life that touch us forever, the longing for a sense of place. What we learn is that beneath the veil of stereotypes, our human connections are stronger than our cultural differences."', '

The Flag of Childhood: Poems from the Middle East
by Naomi Shihab Nye, ISBN: 0689851723 Purchase this Book
Reading level: Ages 4-8,

From the book description: "In this stirring anthology of sixty poems from the Middle East, honored anthologist Naomi Shihab Nye welcomes us to this lush, vivid world and beckons us to explore. Eloquent pieces from Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere open windows into the hearts and souls of people we usually meet only on the nightly news. What we see when we look through these windows is the love of family, friends, and for the Earth, the daily occurrences of life that touch us forever, the longing for a sense of place. What we learn is that beneath the veil of stereotypes, our human connections are stronger than our cultural differences."

Sami and the Time of the Troubles
by Florence Parry Heide, Judith Heide Gilliland, ISBN: 0395720850 (Purchase this Book)
Reading level: Ages 4-8

A beautifully illustrated story about Sami, a young Lebanese living in war-torn Beirut. Without depicting any violent scenes or material inappropriate for children, the book manages to offer a compelling look at the world through Sami''s perspective, capturing his fears, his concerns and his hopes for the future.

Day of Ahmed''s Secret
by Florence H. Parry , Ted Lewin, ISBN: 0688140238 (Purchase this Book)
Reading level: Ages 6-9

From Publisher''s Weekly: In this admirable introduction to life in an alien culture, readers are whisked to the busy streets of Cairo--where young Ahmed is making his daily rounds on a donkey cart, delivering large canisters of butane gas. The city is presented through his eyes, and text and illustration work together in harmony to produce a sense of place so vivid that readers can almost hear the cry of vendors in the crowded marketplace and feel the heat rising from the streets. On this particular day, Ahmed carries a secret with him (he has learned to write his name in Arabic), one children will enjoy trying to guess. The authors have produced fluid prose, and Lewin''s sensitive, luminous watercolors hint at the mystery and timelessness of this exotic city.

Sitti''s Secrets
by Naomi Shihab Nye, Nancy Carpenter, ISBN: 0689817061 (Purchase this Book)
Reading Level: Ages 4-8

From the book jacket: "Mona''s grandmother, her Sitti, lives in a small Palestinian village on the other side of the earth. Once, Mona went to visit her. They couldn''t speak each other''s language, so they made up their own. They learned about each other''s worlds, and they discovered each other''s secrets. Then it was time for Mona to go back home, back to the other side of the earth. But even though there were millions of miles and millions of people between them, they remained true neighbors forever."

Thura''s Diary
by Thira al-Windawi, ISBN: 0670058866 (Purchase this Book)
Reading Level: Ages 9-12

From the book description: "Nineteen-year-old Thura al-Windawi kept a diary during the conflict in Iraq, saying that it was her way of "controlling the chaos." The diary, which documents the days leading up to the bombings, the war itself, and the lawless aftermath, puts a personal face on life in Baghdad. As Thura describes her life... she shows readers the many small details that illuminate the reality of war for Iraqi families, and especially for Iraqi children."

Habibi
by Naomi Shihab Nye, ISBN: 0689825234 (Purchase this Book)
Reading level: Ages 9-12

From the book description: "The day after Liyana got her first real kiss, her life changed forever. Not because of the kiss, but because it was the day her father announced that the family was moving from St. Louis all the way to Palestine. Though her father grew up there, Liyana knows very little about her family''s Arab heritage. Her grandmother and the rest of her relatives who live in the West Bank are strangers, and speak a language she can''t understand. It isn''t until she meets Omer that her homesickness fades. But Omer is Jewish, and their friendship is silently forbidden in this land. How can they make their families understand? And how can Liyana ever learn to call this place home?"

Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak
by Deborah Ellis, ISBN: 0888995547 (Purchase this Book)
Reading Level: Young Adult

From the book description: "Ellis turns her attention to the young people of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After visiting the region to conduct interviews, she presents their stories here in their own words. Twelve-year-old Nora, eleven-year-old Mohammad, and many others speak directly about their lives - which prove to be both ordinary and extraordinary: They argue with their siblings. They hate spinach. They have wishes for the future. Yet they have also seen their homes destroyed and families killed, and live amidst constant upheaval and violence. This simple, telling book allows young readers everywhere to see that the children caught in this conflict are just like them - but living far more difficult and dangerous lives. Without taking sides, it presents an unblinking portrait of children victimized by the endless struggle around them."