by Golbarg Bashi, Illustrated by Golrokh Nafisi
PM Press
9/3/2024, paperback
SKU: 9798887440767
Imagine a world where every letter of the alphabet unlocks the colorful tapestry of a rich and ancient culture. This enchanting book does just that, guiding young readers on a journey through language, history, and traditions with each turn of the page.
Can we sing the ABC anywhere? With a woolly bear or on thin air? Set off on an alphabetic adventure to Palestine, a land that tells a story with every letter. From the A that stands for Arabic, a beautiful language sung by millions, to the Z for za'atar, a flavor that's as bold as the history it accompanies, P Is for Palestine is more than just an ordinary ABC.
It's also an odyssey through heritage, a cultural immersion that connects young minds to the world beyond their own. It's where the traditional T for thob dresses meets the modern, where the ancient Q for Quds (Jerusalem) sits at the heart of spirituality, and where the resilience symbolized by I for intifada teaches the value of standing up for what is right.
With engaging illustrations and sweet rhymes, this book is a celebration of identity, a bridge spanning generations, and an invitation to friendship. Whether you're a child, a parent, or simply a lover of wisdom and wonder, let this journey inspire you with every letter you explore.
Target age: 3 to 10
Reviews:
“The book should be outright banned from American bookstores.” — Fox News
“This book provides an attractive and thoughtful introduction to the heritage and culture of Palestine that will be appreciated by children whose families come from Palestine, and by children everywhere.” — Rashid Khalidi, globally renowned Palestinian-American scholar, author, and the Edward Said professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University
“Cheerful little book, in which a curly-haired young girl guides us through her homeland... A genuine celebration of the historical diversity of Palestine, the book does a stellar job of reminding Westerners, many of whom believe Christianity is a Western religion, that it is Palestine that is the birthplace of Christianity.” — Nada Elia, Palestinian author and journalist
About the Author:
Golbarg Bashi was born in Iran, raised in Sweden, and educated in the UK and US. For over a decade, Dr. Bashi has designed and taught interdisciplinary courses on various aspects of medieval and modern history of west Asia, as well as Islamic art, critical methodologies in a wide range of disciplines. After a full-time career as an academic, she is now focused on diversifying children's media and empowering children from underrepresented and marginalized countries and communities with positive, environmentally conscious, and fun stories that inform all the interconnectedness of world cultures. She lives with her family in New York.
Golrokh Nafisi is a children's book illustrator, animator, and puppet maker engaged in the contemporary conceptual art scene. In her works, she covers daily events, lives of ordinary people, and the politics of the societies she lives in. She is based between Amsterdam and Tehran.