Embark on an alphabetic odyssey through culture and heritage.
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.
Praise
“The book should be outright banned from American bookstores.”
—Fox News
“The first ABC picture book about Palestine is definitely an important book for people of Palestinian heritage who want to share it with their children.”
—Alex Supko, librarian at Baltimore County Public Library, writer at Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association
“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
“Parenting is hard enough. Now add to the mix raising Palestinian children to be proud of their heritage, history, and homeland amidst an onslaught of negative and demeaning messages. . . . The book presents a beautifully illustrated, unapologetically proud narrative of Palestinian identity. . . . The racist portrayal of us as violent, angry, irrational, uncivilized, and incapable of living in peace with their neighbors is far too common. . . . P Is for Palestine is exactly the kind of positive reinforcement needed by children whose identity is constantly under attack.”
—Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
“I was excited to spot P Is for Palestine. . . . The book is fantastic on so many different levels: it features a little girl with curly black hair, big eyes, and brown skin; the illustrations are gorgeous; and it teaches the alphabet through egalitarian and multicultural words from both Arabic and English.”
—Radhika Sainath, American author and civil rights lawyer
“When does a children’s book get coverage in the New York Post (‘Page Six,’ no less), the Forward, Ha’aretz, the New York Daily News, and Breitbart? . . . Teaching and learning about Palestine has been a sore spot for Zionists. The book provides an ocular target for their existential anxiety.”
—Steven Salaita, professor of American Indian studies and scholar of immigration, indigenous peoples, dislocation, race, ethnicity, and multiculturalism
“This powerful book will prove to be pivotal for so many young Palestinians on their search for identity and belonging, and will introduce countless others to a place and people that have been marginalized for too long in their struggle for equality. I can’t wait to buy copies for my niece, and her friends. P is for ‘Palestine’ and also for ‘proud.’”
—Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, Palestinian-American Emmy-nominated journalist, broadcaster, and senior correspondent for AJ+
“You will fall in love with this innovative, much needed, and beautifully illustrated Palestinian alphabet book. Highly recommended!”
—Jack G. Shaheen, author of Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People
“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
“P Is for Palestine is a colorful manifestation of all that is beautiful about the land of my parents and ancestors. This book is a gift that takes you on a journey of love, life, and resilience; the virtues of my beloved Palestine.”
—Linda Sarsour, award-winning Palestinian Muslim American Activist
“Golbarg Bashi’s P Is for Palestine is a moving journey of alphabetical letters becoming a bridge, a boat that connects us to our homeland and our heritage, while yearning for freedom and peace in Palestine.”
—Rula Jebreal, award-winning Palestinian author, filmmaker, journalist, and foreign policy analyst
“I’m so happy to live in a world where a book like P is for Palestine exists. If I had had something like this as a child, I would have felt so much less alone and so much more interested in my culture, instead of wondering why no one else seemed to know the words that were so comforting and real to me. I cannot wait to give a copy to my niece, nephew, and every other little Arab American child, who will not only be able to learn from this book but will also be able to feel proud of where she is from, and, consequently, rooted deeply in the world.”
—Najla Said, Palestinian-American playwright, actress and author of Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family
“G for great . . . P for peace in Palestine.”
—Marwan Bishara, internationally renowned Palestinian author, broadcaster, and chief political analyst at Al Jazeera Media Network
“I wish I had a book like this when I was a child! Fantastic and fun . . . a great way to show children another world and open their minds. It’s especially exciting to me as a Palestinian, as I always want to find ways to show my baby she can feel proud of her culture and have fun at the same time. Colorful, truly original and a delight for young and old!”
—Annemarie Jacir, Palestinian filmmaker of When I Saw You
“A book for our children that teaches self-love and pride. A book for our friends that shares a central piece of our lives. A book for ourselves that sings without apology: P is for Palestine and all of its wonders that make it home.”
—Noura Erakat, internationally renowned Palestinian-American human rights attorney, academic and activist
“Golbarg Bashi takes children (and parents) into Palestine, illustrated beautifully with Golrokh Nafisi drawings. P Is for Palestine is a must for anyone who grew up with fragmented past and is looking to changing today’s stereotypes.”
—Najwa Najjar, award-winning Palestinian filmmaker of Eyes of a Thief: Pomegranates and Myrrh
“Palestine is our story, and our story begins with the alphabet. Every letter a direction. Stunningly illustrated. A dream-book for all ages.”
—Nathalie Handal, award-winning Palestinian poet and author
About the Author and Illustrator
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, the lives of ordinary people, and the politics of the societies she lives in. She is based in Amsterdam and Tehran.
Author: Golbarg Bashi • Illustrated by Golrokh Nafisi
Series: PM Press
ISBN: 9798887440767 / 9798887440842
Published: 09/03/2024
Format: Paperback / Hardcover
Size: 8 x 10
Pages: 72