Scroll down to see the books in this category.
These collections of books have been assembled from many sources of recommended reading on Israel/Palestine, including: the United Church of Christ (UCC) and UCC PIN, Sabeel, Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Jews for Justice for Palestinians (JFJFP) and others.
Presented in the following categories on individual pages:
• About/By Palestinian Christians
• Religion; The Bible; Christian Zionism
• History
• Personal Histories: Memoirs, Autobiographies
• Political Analysis; Diplomatic History
• The Current Situation
• Activism; Resistance; Solidarity; Intersectional Justice
• Novels; Short Stories; Poetry
• Palestinians inside Israel
• Zionism; Jewish Identity
• Faith Relations; Anti-Semitism
• Visual Arts; Crafts (poetry moved to new list)
• Tourism; The Politics of Tourism
• Children’s Books
Please note: some books are listed in more than one category.
Please send us your suggestions for additions to these lists; contact us at [email protected].
The order of the books within each category is random and is not related to the importance of the work.
P is for Palestine: A Paletine Alphabet Book
By Golbarg Bashi (Author), Golrokh Nafisi (Illustrator)
The world’s first-ever English-language ABC story book about Palestine is told in simple rhythmic rhyme with stunning illustrations to act as an educational, colorful, empowering reference for children, showcasing the geography, the beauty and strength of Palestinian culture. Anyone who has ever been to Palestine (to some also known as the Holy Land) or who has Palestinian friends, colleagues, or neighbors knows that this proud nation, located on the western-most point of Asia, not that many nautical miles away from Cyprus, Alexandria (Egypt) and Greece, is at the center of our world. It is home to the sweetest oranges, most intricate embroideries, great dance moves (Dabkeh), fertile olive groves, and sunniest people! Inspired by Palestinian people’s own rich history in the literary and visual arts, specifically by children’s authors and illustrators such as Naji al-Ali (1938 – 1987), Ghassan Kanafani (1936 – 1972), and Mohieddin El Labbad (1940 – 2010) among others, P is for Palestine was first launched in November 2017 as the first title in ‘Dr. Bashi’s’ Diverse Children’s Books Series.’ Its sequel ‘Counting Up the Olive Tree: A Palestine Number Book,’ written by the same author and illustrated by the gifted American artist Nabi H. Ali was published as paper-back in June, 2019 and should become available here on amazon in August, 2019.
“‘P is for Palestine’ is exactly the kind of positive reinforcement needed by children whose identity is constantly under attack.”
Dr. Yousef Munayyer, Executive Director of The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR)
Yalla, Let Me Show You Palestine
By Nasser Nabhan and Miranda Kharsa
Yalla, Let Me Show You Palestine is the story of a rambunctious and proud Palestinian child, Yousef, who embarks on an exciting task his first day of school in the United States: explaining the uniqueness and joy of his culture to his peers. Throughout the day, Yousef utilizes the classroom materials and environment to express his Palestinian identity. Join Yousef on his imaginative journey to celebrate friendship, culture, history, food, and art in this informative and inclusive book!
About the authors
Nasser Nabhan is a Palestinian-American educator that has taught young children in Chicago and Palestine. He received his B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington in History and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and his M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Dominican University in Illinois.
Miranda Kharsa is a Palestinian-American artist, graphic designer, and researcher based in Michigan. She has been creating art since her youth as a means of escape, to dream, and to process her personal and collective experiences. She typically works with charcoal and water and watercolor.
Baba, What Does My Name Mean?: A Journey to Palestine
By Rifk Ebeid (Author), Lamaa Jawhari (Illustrator)
When Saamidah, a young Palestinian refugee, is asked by her friends what her name means, she isn’t quite sure what to say. She turns to her baba for some answers – but what she gets is an adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Join Saamidah on a lyrical journey, with dazzling illustrations, that brings to life her beloved homeland and celebrates the richness of her cultural heritage and the determination to return.
About the Author
Rifk Ebeid was born and raised in the United States, but is originally Palestinian, hailing from the beautiful cities of al-Khalil (Hebron) and al-Quds (Jerusalem). Rifk has been a lifelong lover of all things Palestine, and first began her advocacy work with an impassioned letter to the editor in the seventh grade. Her happiest memories were the summers she spent in al-Quds with her very big Palestinian family, exploring the land and soaking in every bit of its rich history and resilient people. Rifk has a JD from George Mason University, an MA in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University, and an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Northern Colorado. She has worked extensively in the field of human rights and media advocacy with various human rights organizations in the US, Jerusalem, and the UAE.
Olive Harvest in Palestine: A Story of Childhood Memories
By Wafa Shami (author), Shaima Farouki (Illustrator)
A story about the harvest traditions that have been shared among Palestinian farmers for centuries. The story takes the reader’s imagination on a journey, starting from how the olives are picked, through how they are pressed into oil, bottled and finally arrive in the consumer’s hands. Along the way the reader shares in this festive working atmosphere filled with singing, eating, love and laughter portrayed from the eyes of a child.
“Shami’s lovely children stories like this one on olive harvest remind us and reconnect us (kids and grown-ups) to each other and to the land in a heart-warming way.”
Mazin Qumsiyeh