Nour's Secret Library


Book Description

Forced to take shelter when their Syrian city is plagued with bombings, young Nour and her cousin begin to bravely build a secret underground library. Based on the author’s own life experience and inspired by a true story, Nour’s Secret Library is about the power of books to heal, transport and create safe spaces during difficult times. Illustrations by Romanian artist Vali Mintzi superimpose the colorful world the children construct over black-and-white charcoal depictions of the battered city.




Hands Around the Library


Book Description

The inspiring true story of demonstrators standing up for the love of a library, from a New York Times bestselling illustrator In January 2011, in a moment that captured the hearts of people all over the world, thousands of Egypt's students, library workers, and demonstrators surrounded the great Library of Alexandria and joined hands, forming a human chain to protect the building. They chanted "We love you, Egypt!" as they stood together for the freedom the library represented. Illustrated with Susan L. Roth's stunning collages, this amazing true story demonstrates how the love of books and libraries can unite a country, even in the midst of turmoil.




Superluminous


Book Description

Nour loves the luminous glow she was born with, but it’s only when it starts to dim that she discovers the true power of her brilliant light. Nour has a superpower: she glows. Her light shines so bright, she feels like a star in the night sky. But when kids at school notice her glow, they’re not impressed. If she had a real superpower, they say, she could fly or turn invisible. So Nour stops feeling special. And as her light dims, her world darkens . . . until a nighttime cry from her baby sister shows her how powerful her glow can be. Ian De Haes’s heartfelt story and radiant illustrations highlight themes of self-confidence, bravery, empathy, and the imaginative power of a strong female protagonist—whose name means light in Arabic.




The Secret Keeper


Book Description

A cloth bag containing ten copies of the title.




Amazing Women of the Middle East


Book Description

A superb collection of stories about incredible women from the Middle East Discover Sheherazade, the famous storyteller, dive into the musical world of the beautiful singer Fairuz and meet Amal Clooney, an outstanding international lawyer. Feel inspired by twenty-five amazing women from the Middle East, who have created a legacy through strength of vision, leadership, courage, and determination. Written by award-winning author and trailblazer, Wafa' Tarnowska, this stunning collection of life stories is illustrated by a team of internationally recognized artists. This book is an absolute must-have! This book features: • Scheherazade, Persia, narrator • Nefertiti, Ancient Egypt, 1370 BCE, Queen of Egypt • Queen of Sheba, 1050 BCE, modern-day Ethiopia • Semiramis, ancient Iraq, 811 BCE, Queen of Babylon • Cleopatra VII, Egypt, 69 BCE, last queen of Egypt • Zenobia, Syria, 240 CE, Queen of Palmyra • Theodora, 497 CE, Empress of Byzantium • Rabiya al Adawiyya, Iraq, 714, poet • Shajarat al Durr, Egypt, early 13th Century, Sultana of Egypt • Hurrem Sultan, Ukraine, 1502, Sultana of Ottoman Empire • May Ziadeh, Nazareth, Palestine, 1886, writer • Nazik el Abid, Syria, 1887, activist • Anbara Salam al Khalidi, Lebanon, 1897, activist and feminist • Saloua Raouda Choucair, Lebanon, 1916, painter • Fairuz, Lebanon, 1933, singer • Zaha Hadid, Iraq, 1950, architect • Anousheh Ansari, Iran/USA, 1966, astronaut • Somayya Jabarti, Saudi Arabia, 1970, editor-in-chief • Nadine Labaki, Lebanon, 1974, film maker and actress • Amal Clooney, Lebanon/British, 1978, lawyer • Manahel Thabet, Yemen, 1981, economist and mathematician • Maha Al Baluchi, Oman, pilot • Nadia Murad, Iraq, 1993, rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner • Zahra Lari, UAE, 1995, ice skater • Azza Fahmy, Egypt, jewellery designer




Happily Ever Hereafter


Book Description

“Nobody can live forever. Allah (SWT) created us and gives us life, and Allah will decide when to end our lives and take us back to Him (2:156). Naturally, we might fear the time when loved ones will pass away, and we also might worry about when our own time will come. But our faith tells us about death and teaches us what we must do to prepare for the hereafter. In this book, we teach two key lessons. In the first story, “Life Goes On,” Amira’s parents explain that they can’t and won’t always be with her, but that Allah (SWT) always is and will always continue to take care of her. Not only that, a person’s life doesn’t stop with death; rather, it is a transition from one world to another. Therefore, while it’s expected to miss the one who passed away, we should take solace in the fact that, “The hereafter is better and more lasting” (87:17). The second story is about preparing ourselves for the hereafter. Our belief in Qiyamah, the Day of Judgement, fundamentally changes how we live our lives. We didn’t come into this world simply to go to school, get a job, have a family, and then die. Allah (SWT) tells us that He created death and life as a test to see who is the best in deeds (67:2). We must try to perform the best of deeds such that we become good human beings in the eyes of God, before our time on earth is up. Good deeds are like bricks, which we can use to build our house in paradise, our ultimate destination, insha’Allah. The second story, “A Home in the Hereafter,” conveys this lesson through Haroon Uncle’s example, as he role models what it means to live a life for the next.”—Provided by publisher.




The Girl with a Brave Heart


Book Description

Shiraz, a kindhearted young girl growing up in Tehran, has a miserable life at home with her stepmother and stepsister, who treat her like a servant. When the wind blows Shiraz’s ball of wool into the garden next door, she spends the day helping and caring for the old lady who lives there, with miraculous results. Then her stepmother sends her own daughter off on the same mission . . . but will the results be the same?




Sort of Super


Book Description

Eleven year-old Wyatt Flynn had something amazing happen to him: he got superpowers! The only problem? Wyatt got his superpowers totally by mistake and his dad thinks he's too young to have superpowers. Plus his dad also worries what would happen if everyone found out ... so he makes Wyatt hide them. In graphic novel format.




The Stray Cats of Homs


Book Description

'An incredible book. Profoundly affecting and deeply soulful. This book will stay with me forever.' Ruth Jones, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author I don't know how you've made it this far . . . Sami's childhood is much like any other - school with his friends, dinners with his family, playing with his pets (stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof). But with Syria at war with itself, nothing is really normal. And Sami's hopes for a better future are about to be ripped away. Inspired by extraordinary true events, The Stray Cats of Homs is the breathtaking story of a young man who will do anything to keep the dream of home alive. ___ 'An absolutely riveting novel and a searing and incredibly important book. Storytelling at its best.' Donal Ryan 'Warm, captivating and inspiring.' Mike Thomson, author of Syria's Secret Library 'Compelling and uncompromising' BBC Radio 4, Sunday