 We welcome Cherise Harris, author and illustrator of THE TOY PLANE to the blog today. KLiC: What was your inspiration for The Toy Plane? CH: I first came up with the idea that inspired The Toy Plane years ago, during a class as a BFA Illustration student at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. In recent years, I decided to revisit that early idea and those early illustrations. My agent would always ask, what is the heart of the story? I had just given birth to my son, and I wanted to make a story that would be set in my country Barbados, and I knew I wanted to create a book that showed boys in a more tender story setting; which inspired the theme of loss, and how we cope with grief. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? CH: When I revisited this story idea, I originally wanted it to be a wordless picture book. I first wrote a summary of the story that I could illustrate from, and then sketched it out and made a book dummy. This process included critique and feedback from my agency, and when all edits were complete, my agent then pitched it to the editor. My editor loved the wordless story, but felt that including words would enhance the experience for children, especially in our targeted age group; so we decided to include a few words of story throughout the book. As both an illustrator and an author, this process worked well for me, and the written words became a blend of narration as well as a beautiful poetic journey, where the use of metaphor can take readers on a deeper interpretation of the illustrations. I would say the process to write and sell the book took roughly a year.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? CH: My favorite illustrations in the book include first in the beginning, when Leonard's father gifts him the toy plane, and Leonard is overcome with emotion. I really enjoyed showing this tender moment between a father and son. My other favorites are the fantasy scenes. Growing up in Barbados I loved fantasy books like the Chronicles of Narnia, but I didn't see children with skin like mine that were in stories like that. In The Toy Plane, I really enjoyed illustrating Leonard flying the plane among dragons and lions with wings! KLiC: What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? CH: One thing I want children to take away from The Toy Plane is that it's okay to feel a range of emotions when it comes to processing grief. I want them to know that it's okay to cry- especially for boys. When I was making this book, I imagined boys in Barbados and around the world seeing themselves in the character of Leonard, going from being sad, to crying tears, to being lovingly embraced. In the book, children will see that we can go from feeling vulnerable to feeling brave and feeling joy. KLiC: What's next for you? CH: I'm currently working on my first early graphic novel series as both author and illustrator called Audrey's Magic Book Club!  Cherise Harris is an author and illustrator from Barbados. Her work centers around an interest in fairy tales and their role in telling deep, meaningful stories. Cherise uses pencil, watercolor, and clay, exploring her ideas in both 2D and 3D form. She has a master’s in illustration from Falmouth University in the UK.
Headshot credit: Ryan Harris  Today we feature Sili Recio & Elena Lawrence and their picture book, The Other Side of the Garden, illustrated by Brianna McCarthy. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? Elena told me this story on November 2, 2019. I know the date because it was recounted during one of our nighttime convos. She said "when I was little" and that phrase, combined with the things she was saying, made me take notes as she spoke. I wasn't sure what this would become, but it felt like such an important story. It sat in my notes app and I slowly created the full story around what she shared. I didn't send a proposal until July of 2021. Months later, I spoke to Denene Millner, my editor, and we talked about the themes. I took lots of notes, edited the story and submitted the final draft. We received a formal offer in October of 2022. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for The Other Side of the Garden? Because this was a story that Elena recounted as a lived experience, there wasn't a lot to research around the heart of the story. The research we did was around what other books existed in the space for kids. I felt that there was a need for more books like this one, and I'm now glad that it's here for others. I'm especially grateful to be in the company of a book like The Toy Airplane which offers another opportunity to dance with the topic of grief.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Brianna is such a brilliant illustrator. This book wouldn't land with the power, beauty and depth that the story carries without her illustrations. When I saw the first sketches, my breath caught in my chest at the spread toward the end of the book where it shows the little girl's growth over time. I tear up recounting this even now. It reminded me of how much Elena has grown over the years, but also how much life has grown around our grief. Elena: I love every single illustration created by Brianna. I'm truly grateful we have such an amazing artist to help bring this project to life. If I had to pick one, I'd say it's the cover image where the girl is holding the butterfly. I also love the cats that can be found in the background throughout the book. KLiC: What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? Elena: I hope that when kids read this book, they gain a sense of comfort. It can be hard losing someone at a young age, but it's important to understand it gets easier with support from others. Sili: I want children to feel seen and validated. We don't often explore what children are feeling after the loss of a loved one because they might not have the words to explain. I pray this gives them visibility and an understanding that they're not alone. KLiC: What's next for you? Elena would probably say college. She will be a junior next year and we are already discussing college visits, SATs, and application essays. I'm sitting in expectation as to what our little book will do for her as she moves forward in life. That's been the unexpected treat this project has provided. For me? There's another children's book in the works and I'm mulling over several other projects for older children and adults. But immediately next is the desire to be present with this new book, to sit with people in their grief – children especially – as this book makes it out into the world.  Sili Recio has been calling herself a writer since she won a trophy in a poetry contest in the sixth grade. She is an Afro-Dominican storyteller, disruptor, and Mami. Sili earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rollins College. She entered the world of social media via her blog in 2010 and has never looked back. Sili lives in Florida with her daughter, the Frog Princess, and tries not to pass on her love of café con leche to her child. She is failing. You can visit her at SiliRecio.com.  Elena Djome Lawrence is an artist and violinist who excels in both her schoolwork and creative projects. Her literary debut picture book The Other Side of the Garden was inspired by a story she shared with her mother when she was nine years old. Her imaginative telling of her own grief serves as the foundation of the book, offering inspiration to those navigating their own journeys of loss.
Headshot credit: Deshay Washingtongton)  We are thrilled to have Judy Campbell-Smith on the blog today where she talks about her picture book, Baseball for Breakfast: A (Mostly) True Story, illustrated by Maggie Carroll. KLiC: What was your inspiration for Baseball for Breakfast? JCS: For this book, I was inspired by learning about the true story of Bill Veeck and the Milwaukee Brewers’ morning baseball games during World War II. I am a lifelong baseball fan, and I had been hoping to find an interesting slice of baseball history to bring to life in a picture book. Bill Veeck was such a colorful character in real life, and I could immediately imagine the potential layers and connections of the fun baseball games set against the historical backdrop of war. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Baseball for Breakfast? JCS: I started off researching books about Bill Veeck and looking for some details about the morning baseball games. I was able to find even more information from historical records and newspapers. I was thrilled to find a website dedicated to history of Borchert Field, the stadium that the Brewers played in during the time period that my story is set. They had wonderful old photos from the 40’s, vintage paraphernalia, signage, and newspaper clippings. Then I looked at gathering information about what life was like in Milwaukee during World War II, especially for children. All of these resources gave me a good foundation of facts to support my fictional characters.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? JCS: It’s so hard to choose a favorite because Maggie Carroll has done such beautiful work. I fell in love with her art which feels vintage-inspired, but still fresh and energetic. If I have to choose a favorite spread, it’s the one that shows Pa in his naval uniform and Ma in the classic “Rosie the Riveter” outfit. They are surrounded by spot illustrations that show men going off to war and women working in the factory. I felt like Maggie’s approach was the perfect way to support the storytelling as it zoomed out from Jimmy’s family and showed what was happening in the wider world at the time. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? JCS: I hope children see that when times are tough, the way to get through it is by finding joy and becoming a helper. The book shows that there are many ways to help, and even small things can make a difference. You might not be able to reschedule a baseball game, but you can make someone laugh or share your cereal. These things matter too. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? JCS: Keep writing the stories that excite you and bring you joy. That is what will keep you going when the work is tough and the no’s pile up. But if you keep going, good things will come eventually.  Judy Campbell-Smith writes picture books that spark curiosity and celebrate diversity. Judy is Black and Puerto Rican, and she’s always trying to write books that she wished she had as a child. She is the author of AJ’s Neighborhood, Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World, and Baseball for Breakfast: A (Mostly) True Story. Judy works for Made for PAX, a non-profit organization, and is very active in the kidlit community. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two children.
 We are thrilled to interview picture book author, Nadine Presley on our blog today. Read below about her newest picture book, A Ramadan Night: Kidlit in Color: What was your inspiration for A Ramadan Night? Nadine Presley: I knew I wanted to write a Ramadan book, but I was not quite sure where to start. What I did know was that I wanted to capture the wonder, excitement, and anticipation that fills the month, especially as experienced through a child’s eyes. So I began by asking children what their favorite part of Ramadan was. Many said the food, which is completely fair, but most of them said the nights. I immediately responded, “Me too!” And that is where the story truly began. From there, I drew deeply from my own childhood memories. I remember closing my eyes and trying to feel Ramadan arrive, sensing the subtle shift in the air and in our hearts. I have vivid memories of growing up in Damascus, Syria, walking to the mosque each night to pray taraweeh, taking in the lights, sounds, and quiet magic of the world around me, much like Sami does in the book. As I wrote, it became important to me to show the many layers of Ramadan. While it is often understood simply as a month of fasting, it is truly a rich, immersive, and multidimensional experience. A Ramadan Night became my way of inviting children into that sensory journey, the sights, sounds, feelings, and wonder of the month, while also tapping into a universally familiar childhood joy, staying up late and enjoying dessert at night. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? NP: My writing process often begins with emotion and memory rather than plot. With A Ramadan Night, I started by jotting down moments, the sights, sounds, and feelings I wanted to capture, and slowly shaped them into a narrative that followed a child’s experience through the night. I began by listing the sensory details I hoped to include and then grounding them in my own childhood memories of Syria. Picture books go through many drafts, and this one was no exception. While drafting and revising, I read widely and intentionally, immersing myself in the craft of picture books. I read well over one hundred titles, including classic works such as What Is Love? by Mac Barnett, books centered on Ramadan, stories that explored father and child relationships, and books that followed characters on walks or unfolded during nighttime. Reading across these themes helped inspire me as I slowly uncovered the story I really want to tell. I was incredibly fortunate that this book sold relatively quickly. It was preempted by the wonderful editor Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster just a couple of weeks after it went on submission in 2022. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? NP: I have both a favorite spread and a favorite small detail. One of my favorite elements is Sami wearing flip-flops over socks, which is a very Syrian masjid look that I find incredibly charming and familiar. As for my favorite spread, the scene where everyone is in sujud beneath the mosaic, dome-shaped ceilings holds a very special place in my heart. Seeing such an intimate moment of prayer depicted so openly and unapologetically in a mainstream children’s book feels incredibly meaningful. Huge credit goes to the team at Simon & Schuster for allowing that level of authenticity on the page. KLiC: What is the one thing you want children to take away from your book? NP: I hope children come away with a sense of wonder and a feeling that their traditions, memories, and everyday moments are meaningful and worth celebrating. I want Muslim children to see their experiences reflected with beauty and care, and I want non-Muslim children to feel invited into the warmth and magic of Ramadan. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? NP: Read widely and read often, especially in the genre you hope to write in. Studying picture books taught me so much about pacing, structure, language, and how much can be said with very few words. I have also learned the importance of building genuine relationships. Connect with fellow authors, librarians, booksellers, educators, and book lovers not just when you are launching a book, but because you truly want to be part of the community. Those relationships grow naturally and become incredibly meaningful over time. Finally, be patient and kind to yourself. Publishing can be slow, overwhelming, and unpredictable, but consistency, community, and believing in your story go a long way. Keep showing up, keep learning, and trust that your voice matters. -- Nadine Presley is a Syrian Canadian author who loves everything about Ramadan. Her earliest memories of Ramadan go back to her days in Damascus, where she joyfully awaited the month to begin. She now resides in Canada with her husband and three boys, working as a literacy educator. Passionate about anti-racism work and promoting pride in Arab Muslim heritage, she is also a speaker for children, youth, and adults. Her favorite things in the world are big hugs, kind words, and delicious Syrian food—especially during Ramadan.   We are excited to interview Young Adult author, Ahmad Saber about his upcoming book, Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions. Kidlit in Color: What was your inspiration for Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions? Ahmed Saber: My inspiration had always been the question I’d asked myself for well over 15 years: is the pain of having to reconcile your sexuality with your religious or cultural identity in vain, or could it have a meaning? And I didn’t realize it all those years but the answer had always been to write a story based on my lived experience. However if you’re asking about that “spark” moment, then I’d say it was seeing a video clip of a Muslim high school and looking at all the students looking happy in there, apparently looking like they belong, found their community, and then imagining a teen boy who’d have to blend into that while having to hide their true, authentic self. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? AS: Oh gosh, the idea was born exactly in July 2019, and publication date is March 2026, so that is almost 7 years in the making! The main breakthrough came when my incredibly generous and passionate agent Dan Lazar gave me a chance to revise and resubmit, and this truly changed the DNA of the story, and ultimately led to the book deal in July 2023. Then it was 3 more years of editing and revising! I am therefore a firm believer in editing, revisions, and R&Rs! (provided it resonates with you. I don’t recommend it otherwise). For my writing process, I’m pretty squarely a pantser. I find overly plotting takes the joy out of it for me. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions? AS: For the initial drafts, I had to research what life in a Muslim school set in the modern west would be like, the curriculum, the fees required, the dress code observed, the religious education etc. In later drafts, as more details emerged, I had to basically research everything from the minutiae of soccer rules, to how horses behave in barns (someone kindly pointed out it’s darn near impossible to raise a stallion as a pet because they break everything!) KLiC: What’s the one thing you want teens to take away from your book? AS: Increased empathy. Whether that is a straight sophomore girl reading to understand the queer Muslim perspective, whether that is a queer junior of non-South Asian background who would like to explore the unique perspective of queer Muslims and/or Desis, or whether that is a kid of color who sees themselves in this book and feel seen. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? AS: Revise, revise, revise! There were more occasions than I can count on two hands where I felt like quitting. I thought revision limbo was gonna last forever! But I am so, so glad, in retrospect, to have revised this story and hammered away at it. (Caveat: this is you get “green light” signals e.g. getting a R&R, getting editor feedback etc. Sometimes, in certain situations, it really is best to shelve a manuscript and write another book). Ahmad Saber is a medical doctor specializing in rheumatology and internal medicine. Born and raised in Pakistan, Ahmad and his family moved to Canada while he was in high school. Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions is his debut novel and based in part on his own life. You can find him on Instagram @ItsAhmadSaber.  We've had the privilege of featuring many Black books on the KidLit in Color blog written and illustrated by Black creatives. Below are some of our features and favorites in picture books. We hope you'll check out the author interviews for those we've featured to learn about the inspiration and writing process behind these remarkable titles. We also hope you'll help readers find these titles and more to curate a diverse home and school library.  Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrator AG Ford Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling, illustrator Kaylani Juanita Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, illustrator Luisa Uribe Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal, illustrator Ken Daley Better Together Cinderella by Ashley Franklin, illustrator Ebony Glenn Under the Clam Moon by Kaitlyn Wells, illustrator Mariyah Rahman Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter, illustrator Oge Mora Prince: A Little Golden Book Biography by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrator Don Tate Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit by Esau McCaulley, illustrator LaTonya Jackson Fly by Brittany J. Thurman, illustrator Anna Cunha Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Fay Duncan, Keturah A. Bobo, illustrator The Bronx is My Home by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, illustrator Kim Holt Not Done Yet by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrator Nina Crews Stella Keeps the Sun Up by Clothilde Ewing, illustrator Lynn Gaines The March of Hope by Valerie Bolling, illustrator Monica Mikai The Juneteenth Story by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrator Sawyer Cloud All Aboard the Schooltrain by Glenda Armand, illustrator Keisha Morris All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrator Bryan Collier Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, Patrick Dougher, photography Jamel Shabazz Six Triple Eight by Tonya Abari, illustrator Lance Evans Keyana Loves Her Family by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illustrator Charnelle Pinkney Barlow The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrator Lauren Semmer Big Tune by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice Peaches by Gabriele Davis, illustrator Kim Holt Elijah’s Easter Suit by Brentom Jackson, illustrator Emmanuel Boateng Zara In the Middle by Erika Lynne Jones Miles of Style by Lisa D. Brathwaite, illustrator Lynn Gaines They Built Me for Freedom by Tonya Duncan Ellis, illustrator Jenin Mohammed Old to Joy by Anita Crawford Clark A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition by Pamela Courtney, illustrator Toni D. Chambers Leo Wakes Up Grumpy by Corlette Douglas William Still and His Freedom Stories by Don Tate Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo, illustrator Carlos Vélez Aguilera Dear Star Baby by Malcolm Newsome, illustrator Kamala Nair Jump In! By Shadra Strickland Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrator Floyd Cooper Locs Not Dreads by Tonya Abari, illustrator Chasity Hampton BIG by Vashti Harrison The Walk (A Stroll to the Poll) by Winsome Bingham, illustrator E.B. Lewis There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes, illustrators Jerry Pinkney, Brian Pinkney Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrator April Harrison Our Joyful Noise by Gabriele Davis, illustrator Craig Stanley A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie-Evers Williams Story by Nadia Salomon, illustrator London Ladd Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrator James Ransome Blues Boy: The B.B. King Story by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrator Carl Joe Williams I Love My People by Kim Singleton, illustrator Kim Holt Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin, illustrator Ebony Glenn Sing A Song: How "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Keith Mallett Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel You So Black by by Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D., illustrated by London Ladd CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman The Story of We by Nikkolas Smith Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling life of Virginia Hamilton by Nina Crews Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark by Allen R. Wells, DeAndra Hodge illustrator Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, Janelle Washington, illust. Sparrow Loves Reptiles by Murry Burgess, Tamisha Anthony, illustrator A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes, Cathy Ann Johnson, illustrator The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, illustrator The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, Jerome Pumphrey (Illustrator), Jarrett Pumphrey (Illustrator) A Place For Us by James Ransome  KLiC: What was your inspiration for JEONG IS JEONG? JY: I was reading the novel Babel by R.F. Kuang, and the book's magic system is based on the premise that there is no such thing as a perfect translation between languages. It made me think about how even as a kid who was most comfortable speaking English, I would still use certain Korean words when talking with family members. Even at a young age, I recognized that there weren't always equivalent words in English. It made me curious if there were any picture books that explored this idea, and I started thinking about what Korean words I would want to write about. KLiC: Did you do research for JEONG IS JEONG? If so, what kind? JY: I researched a number of uniquely Korean concepts before landing on jeong. In fact, as a Korean American who isn't completely fluent in Korean, I wasn't familiar with the word until working on this book! When I read about jeong, it was a total aha! moment. It was a concept that I knew in my bones and was now finally able to name. After I wrote the manuscript, I had my parents read it to make sure they felt I was accurately representing the spirit of jeong. I also researched comp titles. I wanted to: 1) see if picture books about words in other languages had been done before and 2) ensure I wasn't writing something too similar. I came across a number of lovely picture books, including Eleven Words for Love by Randa Abdel-fattah and Maxine Beneba Clarke, I Am You: A Book about Ubuntu by Refiloe Moahloli and Zinelda McDonald, and Namaste Is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam and Sandhya Prabhat.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? JY: Michelle Lee's art is full of warmth, love, and so much jeong! I truly adore every page, but if I had to pick favorites, it would be the endpapers. There are so many little details to discover. And you'll definitely want to compare the front and back versions because Michelle did something really fun in the design! Also, I'm going to cheat and name one other thing that I thought was completely brilliant. As the main character Luna learns what jeong means, Michelle has the Korean characters in the background of one spread transform into the Romanization of jeong. Seeing Michelle capture the idea of translation within the illustrations in that way was really magical. What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? Jeong is a word that I hope will resonate with kids (and their grown-ups!) and spur them into action. In its simplest form, jeong represents the stickiness of relationships, all the big and small things that bond us over time. Particularly today, when the world is so polarized, sharing jeong feels more important than ever.  Jessica Yoon is a Korean American author from Philadelphia (Go Birds!). Her current and forthcoming books include BLACKPINK: A Little Golden Book Biography, Jeong Is Jeong, Kpop Demon Hunters: The Deluxe Junior Novelization, and The Legend of Ban-Dal. She is a member of the Harrisburg Asian Writers Collective and a recipient of the Highlights Foundation’s Anti-Bias Book Bearer Scholarship. When not writing, Jessica enjoys Pilates, spicy food, and spending time with her husband, two kids, and dog. You can find her online at jessicayoon.com, on Instagram, and Substack.
 Photo by Dr. Kasumi Yamazaki  We are excited to interview Aya Khalil, co-founder of Kidlit in Color, about her latest picture book, Ramadan for Everyone. Read below. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? AK: Ramadan for Everyone is a companion book to my other picture book, The Night Before Eid. In the summer of 2023, my editor at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano, Jessica Anderson, and I brainstormed ideas for a second book and we both loved this idea of two sisters observing Ramadan but one struggles a bit. This was my tightest picture book deadline, though, so I had a few weeks to draft and send it to my critique partners who were giving me feedback the day I sent it to them! We went back and forth a few times and then I sent it to Jessica. We went through some edits together and then it went through acquisitions and got acquired! She's a brilliant editor and I am so glad I worked with her again and Rashin got to do the illustrations once more. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Ramadan for Everyone? AK: I did A LOT of research! This picture book has more religious aspects that The Night Before Eid because Ramadan is a religious holiday for Muslims! I wanted vey accurate information so I consulted a Muslim religious leader, Imam A.R. Chao and he was very thorough with feedback. Although I am an observant Muslim, when you're writing picture books, the text not only has to be factually accurate, but also relevant to young children and it was a bit challenging because of the Islamic terms like taqwa had to be explained really well but also simple for children. I ended up adding lot of back matter to further explain more complex terms in details. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? AK: There's a few that I absolutely love, but the spread with baba and his two daughters in the car is my absolutely favorite for several reasons. Arab and Muslim men are often vilified in the media and I wanted to make sure this baba really stands out as a caring, loving, compassionate, Arab and Muslim father who loves his daughters. He's very involved; he's a professional chef and makes them the best food during Ramadan and his daughters love to help him. This is actually the norm in many Arab households! It's a peaceful and wholesome moment in the car where it's sunset, Habeeba is happy about her accomplishment and baba is encouraging and kind. It reminds me of drives to and from the masjid with my dad and sister; even his outfit is similar to what my dad wears! KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? Ramadan is a special months for Muslims and Muslim children of all ages can participate! I hope Muslim kids feel seen of course and that this book is highlighted during the month so they can relate. I hope kids of all faiths learn something about Muslims and Ramadan. I also hope adults who are Muslims enjoy it because growing up I never had these books, so I wrote this book for us too. KLiC: What’s next for you? I am so excited for my board that I co-wrote with one of my best friends, Bayan Lahham, to come out this fall. It's called A Party of Colors and it's about a child and his dad going through a car wash, but it's the child's first time and seeing it through his eyes is so fun! It's illustrated by Olivia Asser and published by Charlesbridge and their partnership with STEAMWORKS. Aya Khalil is an award-winning author. She holds a master’s degree in Education with a focus in teaching English as a second Language. Aya and her books have been featured in Oprah Daily, Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Yahoo!, Book Riot and USA Today. Her writing has been published in The Huffington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, Toledo Area Parent and many others. Aya’s picture books and board books have won numerous awards and honors including The Arab American Book Award and NCTE’s Charlotte Huck Award. Learn more at www.ayakhalil.com   We are thrilled to interview Dr. Seema Yasmin today about her first book in her upcoming nonfiction chapter book series, Maysoon Zayid The Girl Who Can Can. Kidlit in Color: What was your inspiration for Muslim Mavericks, Volume 1, Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can? Seema Yasmin: The inspiration for this series was the exciting breadth of talent, personalities and experiences that exists within the Muslim community! I’m thrilled to tell the stories of comedians, athletes, and scientists through this series which is one of the first, if not the first, middle grade biographical series about Muslims. There are more than two billion of us on the planet, so there are a lot of amazing people to write about. I grew up wishing these books were on my bookshelf so that I could see myself reflected in literature. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? SY: My agent, Lilly Ghahremani, and I co-conspired on this series back in the summer of 2022 when we were lamenting the lack of books about Muslims. Lilly and I went back and forth on a proposal for the Muslim Mavericks series over the course of a few months and signed a deal with Simon and Schuster the following fall. Lilly is one of those rare agents who is as proficient in offering conceptual refinements and detailed line edits as she is in contract negotiations. The writing sample initially included in the proposal was about a different person, not Maysoon Zayid. But once the deal was in place, I had deeper discussions with my editor about who the first book in the series would be about and we landed on the legendary, incomparable Maysoon Zayid. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? SY: I adore the pictures of Maysoon and her father. It was her father who would say “Yes, you can can,” to encourage young Maysoon to walk and dance and do her physical therapy exercises. Through my interviews with Maysoon, I learned about the warmth, kindness and dedication of this man and these elements were rendered beautifully by the illustrator, Noha Habaieb. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? SY: That Muslims are not a monolith! There are 2 billion of us on the planet and we practice many versions of Islam—or no version at all (for those who consider themselves to be culturally Muslim). I hope the books empower and embolden young Muslim readers, and inspire all readers to understand how faith can play a role in shaping a person’s character and life story. KLiC: What’s next for you? SY: I am adapting my first YA novel, Unbecoming, into a movie; working on my second picture book, Inshallah [God-Willing], which will be published by Simon and Schuster in the next year or so; and I’m nervously awaiting edits on my second YA novel. -- SEEMA YASMIN is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, medical doctor, professor, and poet. She attended medical school at Cambridge University and worked as a disease detective for the USfederal government’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. She currently teaches storytelling at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a regular contributor to CNN, Self, and Scientific American, among others. She is also the author of What the Fact? Finding the Truth in All the Noise and Unbecoming. Learn more and order this book here.  |
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