Writers, illustrators, publishers and cultural institutions are working to keep Palestine present in children’s memories through stories and books that bring together storytelling, poetry, food and heritage. These works address loss, resilience and belonging in accessible language, using details of Palestinian places and customs to bring them closer to young readers.
International list includes 61 books about Palestine
Among the listed works is “Talal and the Land of Oranges” by writer Muhannad Al-Akous. It follows the danger facing Talal’s orange tree and his attempt to save it. The story addresses feelings of loss, hope and resilience, encouraging children to hold on to what they love and seek to recover it, thereby strengthening their understanding of justice and belonging.
Other initiatives are also collecting resources for children about Palestine. They include the Egyptian Hadi Badi initiative, which provides an updated list of books and materials suitable for different age groups in Arabic, English and French. The British Inclusive Books for Children website also has a collection for children from their first to seventh year, including fiction and nonfiction books published in several countries.
Saeed and the Magic Keffiyeh reclaim Jerusalem and heritage
“Saeed and the Magic Keffiyeh,” written by Dana Al-Husseini and illustrated by Hiba Abu Kweik, has been added to the International Board on Books for Young People’s Honour List for Palestine. Abu Kweik said the work’s inclusion on the list would allow it to circulate through international fairs and reach more children around the world.
The illustrator explained that the story begins in Jerusalem and at Damascus Gate, places linked to her childhood memories, so she was keen to show their details and colours, as well as children’s faces, in her illustrations. She also incorporated elements of Palestinian heritage, including the keffiyeh, maqluba, dabke and wedding celebrations, presenting them through a journey in which the characters move between scenes using motion-based imagery.
Abu Kweik believes children’s stories play a role in building awareness and preserving identity and heritage. She also noted that she contributed to “A Long Tail,” part of a project comprising 10 books about Palestine published by the Tamer Institute for Community Education in cooperation with the Reading Room.
Two Pictures links Palestine’s memory to a family experience
Egyptian academic Afaf Tabala, for her part, wrote the story “Two Pictures” out of concern that new generations would know less about the Palestinian cause. The story draws on a personal experience involving her father, who she said led a battalion of fedayeen in the 1948 Palestine War alongside Ahmed Abdel Aziz. Through it, she addressed the relationship between Egypt and Palestine and their shared raids, loss and grief.
Tabala said the impact of stories varies according to how readers respond to them, but identified her main goal as preventing Palestine from being forgotten and keeping the cause present for children.
Abu Kweik also expressed hope that publishers would continue to take an interest in these works and that their publication would not be limited to periods when attention to the cause intensifies.
