A Map for Falasteen

by Maysa Odeh, illustrated by Aliaa Betawi

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. Filled with beautiful, inspiring illustrations and thoughtful back matter that outlines key terms and historical moments, this is a story of family, resilience and home always being where the heart is.

Product details: Hardcover, 40 pages, 10 x 10 in.

Maysa Odeh is a Palestinian writer who grew up between Amman, Jordan, and the United States. This book was inspired by a conversation with her inner child; it answers the questions she was too shy to ask as a child of Palestinian refugees. Maysa lives in California with her daughter, Malak, who asks questions all day long in Arabic and English, and sometimes even in her sleep. 

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. Illustrating this book was her opportunity to capture a memory of Palestine, a memory she could not enjoy as a Palestinian child in exile.