We Are Palestinian

We Are Palestinian

By Reem Kassis  (Author), Noha  Eilouti  (Illustrator)

A stunning non-fiction children’s book celebrating everything Palestinian!

From culture and food, to music and literature, We Are Palestinian is a celebration of Palestinian heritage. Brought to life by award-winning writer Reem Kassis, every spread is filled with wonderful anecdotes, fascinating facts, and memorable quotes. It is beautifully illustrated by Noha Eilouti, an emerging Palestinian-Canadian illustrator.

Discover ALL about the history of iconic Palestinian symbols like tatreez embroidery, or the inspiration behind Mahmoud Darwish's poetry. As you turn every page, you'll find yourself lost in the world of Dabke (the folk dance of Palestine) and amazed by its famous old cities; you'll try traditional food like knafeh, explore the different religions, and find out much more. Each spread of We Are Palestinian is accessible, richly inspiring, and visually stunning.

Young readers are going to love discovering more about Palestine. This is the perfect book for parents, educators, and caregivers wishing to explore new worlds of culture and custom with children!

About the Author

Reem Kassis is a Palestinian writer and cookbook author. Although she studied business and psychology at UPenn and LSE, she chose a writing career in order to preserve the traditions and

stories of Palestinians for her two daughters (soon to be three!) and to share them with the world. She has written two cookbooks and many chapters and articles, but this is the first children’s

book that she has written, and she hopes you will enjoy reading it as much as she loved writing it for you!

About the illustrator

Noha Eilouti is a Palestinian-Canadian illustrator and visual development artist, with a BSc in Multimedia Design from the American University of Sharjah, UAE. She is passionate about bringing stories to life through art. She enjoys traditional drawing, painting and traveling.

Review:

“Anyone who is raising Palestinian children in the diaspora owes Reem Kassis a huge debt of gratitude. The acclaimed cookbook author decided to write a children’s book, she tells us in the introduction to We Are Palestinian, because she wanted to show her young daughters and all young readers ‘how beautiful their culture is and that they can take part in it and be proud of it no matter where they are in the world.’ Kassis accomplishes this—and more. This wonderful book is really a love letter to Palestine itself, describing what it is that makes Palestinians an identifiable Arab nation and imparts to children the reasons they can take pride in their culture. That foundational understanding will stand them in good stead as they grow up in what can often feel like a hostile environment.

The text is arranged into seven chapters, each describing a different component of Palestine: geography, cultural symbols, specific people who make a difference, agriculture, cuisine, song and dance, and history and religion. Written for young readers ages nine years and older, every chapter includes a ‘Did You Know?’ and ‘Fun Fact’ blurb that is designed to inform, engage and inspire. Adults can learn a thing or two from them, too.

The text is beautifully illustrated by Noha Eilouti, a Canadian-Palestinian visual artist whose drawings complement the text and make every single page a visual treat.

Appropriately, the book begins with geography: the cities, towns and villages in which Palestinians have lived their lives over the centuries. People are rooted in specific places, and few people have had their connection to a specific geography come under sustained and relentless attack as have Palestinians. Kassis selects 11 cities and presents distinctive features of each."
―Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crocodile Books (September 19, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1623717254
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 years and up
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches