The Middle East & North Africa
Jordan
The Little Green Drum
By Taghrīd ʻĀrif Najjār, Lucy Coats (Adapted by), Hassan Manasrah (Illustrator)
The Little Green Drum (Early Reader). Taghrīd ʻĀrif Najjār. Adapted by Lucy Coats. Illustrated by Hassan Manasrah. Orion Children’s Books, 2015. Originally published as ما المانع in Arabic by Al Salwa Publishers, in Amman, in 2013. ISBN 1444014358. 73 p. (Ages 6-9). Early chapter book.
This year young Samia must take over for her father in waking up the village for suhoor (breakfast) before their daily Ramadan fast. Braving her father’s worries and the dangers of the pre-dawn night, Samia ends up bringing the children of the town together in a Ramadan celebration. Shortlisted for the Etisalat Award for Children's Literature, this book is a good option for children looking to get excited about Ramadan or to learn about something new. The book does include musical scenes, which some Muslims may object to. Coats worked with the author to retell her story in English. Najjār has written a large number of well received and acclaimed books translated from Arabic to English including The Ghoul and Watermelon Madness. [ea]
Syria
Wild Poppies
By Haya Saleh
Wild Poppies. Haya Saleh. Translated by M. Lynx Qualey. Levine Querido, 2023. Originally published as شقائق النعمان in Arabic by Dar al-Yasmine in Amman. ISBN 9781646142019. 178 p. (Ages 10-14). Fiction.
Oscar works to keep his family intact after their displacement during the Syrian war and the death of his father. He faces a new challenge when his younger brother becomes a child soldier. Heavy themes are delivered in a way appropriate for a mature young audience. The Arabic version was the 2020 Winner of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature in the YA category and was featured in an appeal by ArabLit Quarterly to translate the book into English. [ea]