A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh illustrated by Aliaa Betawi

A haunting, powerful, and crucial tale of culture and identity. Kirkus Star review

On the second page of this book the teacher answers the student with the most chilling words:

"Miss Baker, why isn't Palestine on the map?' Miss Baker looked at the map. 'I think there's no such place,' Miss Baker said."

Falasteen's family are from Palestine and so now she needs answers. Before I continue I need to talk about the name Falasteen. 

The name "Falasteen" is an Arabic name that refers to the historical region of Palestine. It is derived from the word "Filistin," which is the Arabic name for Palestine. The name carries cultural and historical significance, representing the land and people of Palestine.

Back at home Falasteen asks her grandpa about the school map. He takes out his notepad and draws a map with city names including the name of their home.

"Here is your map, omri,' he said. 'Your teacher needs teaching. You can show her this so all of your friends can learn too."

Next stop, Falasteen asks her grandma who is making delicious spinach pies. Grandma shares the memory of leaving their home. Falasteen's mother was a tiny baby.

"The soldiers came with their tanks and guns. ... They burned the fields and the olive trees."

But grandma has kept hold of her house key. (Try to find this book - The Key from Spain). Grandma gives her precious key to Falasteen. That night Falasteen talks to her mother. 

"Sometimes people live in countries. Sometimes countries live in people. Palestine lives in you and me."

Publisher blurb: At school, Falasteen and her classmates are tasked with finding their families' home countries on a map, but no matter how hard she looks, Falasteen can't find Palestine. Can a place exist if it's not on a map? Confused, Falasteen turns to her family for answers. Her grandfather, grandmother, and Mama encourage her to see their homeland from a different perspective, and each of their stories helps her understand her people's history and her own place in the world.

This is a timely book that helps answer a question that teachers and parents are likely to be asked today. It is not an easy question to answer but here the author handles it with a refreshingly matter-of-fact approach that will reassure as well as inform. Falasteen is a very recognisable child and her curiosity is normal. The family’s response is well handled. The illustrations are child friendly and engaging bringing life to the text. This is a story firmly grounded in reality and should be welcomed in every library. For adults the author provides further information at the end of the book. Books for Keeps

Further reading:

• Kids Britannica
• Globe Trotting Kids
• UNICEF "A child-friendly guide to the Gaza crisis"

A Map for Falasteen thematically explores the universal idea of identity and belonging. This would be a rich book to use while learning about these topics, but also these larger ideas are explored through this specific context — offering an opportunity to consider how it must feel to not find your home on a map. This creates a unique opportunity to empathy and understanding in young readers that home, who we are, is more than what could be defined on a map? Palestinian artist, Aliaa Betawi’s art enhances and compliments the narrative. The deliberate colours of the illustrations — warm tones of yellow and orange for present-day scenes, and cool blues for memories of Palestine — help the young reader move between the past and the present, but also offer a visual representation of hope and loss. They also incorporate meaningful aspects of Palestinian culture highlighting Falasteen’s enduring connection to her homeland. Source Instagram 

Awards:

• Jane Addams Foundation Honor Award
• 2025 California Book Award
• The Arab American Book Award
• The Muslim Book Reviewers Judges’ Award
• Kirkus Best Book of 2024 
• Booklist Editors Choice of 2024

I spied this book in Gleebooks and grabbed it with both hands because I am in the process of preparing a short video presentation (with Dr Robin Morrow) on the topic of "The Refugee experience through Picture Books" and I knew this could be a text we might include.

Maysa Odeh is a Palestinian writer who grew up between Amman, Jordan and the United States. Her debut picture book was written during the assault on Gaza in 2021, which sparked a conversation between herself and her inner child. A Map for Falasteen answers the questions she was too shy to ask as a child of Palestinian refugees. What is a homeland? Where do you find it? How can you be sure it’s there when you can’t see it? Maysa resides in California with her daughter who asks questions all day long in Arabic and English, and sometimes even in her sleep. Read this interview with Maysa about her book. 

Aliaa Betawi is a self-taught Palestinian artist based in Alexandria, Egypt who developed her craft by observing her gifted mother. She believes that every kid deserves a childhood filled with magical, joyful memories and this is what she works to give to all kids, including herself. A Map for Falasteen was her opportunity to capture a single elusive memory in Palestine, a memory she could not enjoy as a Palestinian child in exile.

The Sunbird by Sara Haddad illustrated by Baraa Awoor

Begin with this text quote:

"Before they left, Nabila went to the olive grove one last time. She wandered among the trees that were never just trees. They fed her, sheltered her, kept her company. She loved to climb them so much that, in the warmer months, Nabila spent more time above the ground than on it. She even had a job to climb to the very top of the olive trees and pick the best olives, the sweetest fruit. The people in the village called her the sunbird."

Now you also need to know that the Palestine sunbird is the national bird of Palestine. It is a symbol of  beauty, resilience and freedom. These THREE words are very important.

Now go back to the quote - Who is Nabila? Why are they leaving? Where does she live? Are her family with her? Where will she go? Are there no olive trees in the new place? Will she be safe? Will she be happy?

How would you feel if all you had of your home was the front door key? 

 I just had to show you a Palestine Sunbird and how spectacular they look

This book is told in three parts - we begin in Australia in October 2025. People are gathering for a protest march just as they have every week for the last two years. Then the time shifts back to December 1947 as Nabila recounts the story of her childhood and her Nakba story. In the final chapter the focus switches back to that first day in 2025 where Nabila is sharing her story with her new young friend Zane. I was so moved when Nabila, now aged in her 80s, gives Zane that small stone she picked up near her home on that terrible day when the bombs began to fall.

1947 "As she squatted to pick up a stone to throw into the water, she heard it and felt it and saw it all at once, the first of the bombs."

2025 "This stone is for you. Take care of it. Every day, hold it between your fingers, raise it to your nose, close your eyes and breathe in deep. If you clear your mind and concentrate hard, you will smell the autumn rains."

From the cover and title you might think this is a simple book for a young reader but reading this book you will discover it is so much more. This is one of those important books that I would love to put into the hands of readers aged 10+ as a way to give a small understanding of the history of Palestine as told through the eyes of a young child. Older readers will want to discover more about UN Resolution 181 and Resolution 194. Huge thanks to UQP for my advance reader copy of The Sunbird. I especially appreciated the Author's Notes and glossary. This book will be released on 3rd February 2025. Gleebooks Kids will hold a launch event on 7th February.

The Sunbird (my copy) is an adaption of an adult novel which was published in 2024. The adult version is 128 pages so it is a slim novel - the young reader version has 73 pages. Hopefully this book will be shared with lots of readers but I also hope it 'lands' in the right section of a bookstore - with the middle grade novels and not shelved with very junior beginning chapter books. Booksellers need to read this book both because it is important and then because they can then match it with the 'right' reader. Similarly if you are in a school library make sure you read this book - it is fabulous and most certainly deserves your attention. There is something truly powerful about reading a book set during a terrible world event which is told through the eyes of a child. 

Adapted for young readers from her critically acclaimed adult novel, Sara Haddad's middle-grade story about a child's experience of the Nakba is a lyrical ode to sovereignty, freedom and homecoming.⁠ How could a new country be put inside a country that was already there? Where would the new country go? Where did it come from? What would happen to the people who were already there?⁠ It’s 1948 and Nabila Yasmeen lives a happy life in her village in Palestine. She plays in the hills with her friend Khalil and climbs high in the olive trees to pick the sweetest fruit. But when bombs start falling, Nabila and her family are forced to leave. Where will they go?⁠ Embellished with beautiful line illustrations by renowned Palestinian artist Baraa Awoor, 'The Sunbird' is the poignant story of a little girl who just wants to go home.⁠ Instagram

Publisher blurb: It’s 1948 and Nabila Yasmeen lives a happy life in her village in Palestine. She plays in the hills with her friend Khalil and climbs high in the olive trees to pick the sweetest fruit. But when bombs start falling, Nabila and her family are forced to leave. Where will they go?

Here is the original adult edition:

The adult book The Sunbird was originally self-published and then 'discovered' by UQP

Read more here and here is a review and there are more details here too.

The Sunbird discusses themes of migration, post-colonial dispossession 

and displacement, truth-telling, protest, community, identity, belonging and culture.

I had not heard of the Palestinian artist Baraa Awoor. I really like the cover of The Sunbird but I do hope this book, as I have said, reaches older readers even though the cover gives the impression of a book for a younger audience and the publisher suggests 8+. I think this book will better suit readers aged 10+. The small black and white drawings scattered throughout the book are also perfect.

You can read an extract from The Sunbird (young readers edition) here

Baraa Awoor is a self-taught, award-winning illustrator from Gaza, Palestine, currently based in Cairo and holding a UAE Golden Residency. With a background in education and years of artistic practice, she brings stories to life through acrylics, oil pastels, colored pencils, and mixed media and collage. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with recognition at prestigious events such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Sharjah Reading Festival, and exhibitions in Geneva. Baraa has led international workshops on illustrating children’s books in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, sharing her creative process with young artists. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Turkish, and English. Mama's Scent is her first book to be published in the United States. Simon and Schuster

Companion books:

Oranges in no Man's Land

The Kites are Flying

The Key from Spain

I plan to look for these books - two picture books and one YA novel which link with The Sunbird.

These Olive Trees Kirkus Review; Homeland Kirkus Review

Where the Streets had a name Kirkus Review