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Books that Explore Arab and Arab American Experiences 

Check out these recommended titles that honor the culture heritage and history of the diverse peoples of the Arab world.
collage of book covers of books recommended for Arab American Heritage Month
By: National Education Association
Published: April 12, 2024

The Arab American community is made up of individuals with roots in 22 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. These titles focus on the Arab American experience along with books that honor the rich culture, heritage, and history of the diverse peoples of the Arab world. 

Find more of our recommendations in this extended list of titles available at your local library through World Cat. 

Picture Books and Elementary 

Arab Arab All Year Long! by Cathy Camper 

The Book that Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed 

Eleven Words for Love: A Journey Through Arabic Expressions of Love by Randa Abdel-Fatteh 

The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil 

Lailah's Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi 

Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers by Uma Mishra-Newbery and Lina Al-Hathloul 

My Name is Bana by Bana Alabed 

Nour's Secret Library by Wafa' Tarnowska 

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper 

Where Butterflies Fill the Sky by Zahra Marwan  

Middle Grade 

Farah Rocks Fifth Grade by Susan Muaddi Darraj 

The Green Bicycle by Haifaa Al-Mansour 

Tagging Freedom by Rhonda Roumani  

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi  

The Magical Reality of Nadia by Bāsim Yūsuf 

The Turtle of Michigan by Naomi Shihab Nye 

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga  

Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein by Jennifer Rozines Roy with Ali Fadhil 

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije 

Silverworld by Diana Abu-Jaber 

Young Adult

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney 

From Here: A Memoir by Luma Mufleh 

Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo 

Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy 

I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib 

Ida in the Middle by Nora Lester Murad 

Man o' War by Cory McCarthy 

The Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy 

We’re in this Together by Linda Sarsour 

Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed and Sharon E. McKay 

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National Education Association

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The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
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