Childrens Picture Book – Family – Multigenerational – Places – Middle East – Social Themese – Emmigration, Immigration and Refugees – Ages 4-8

Illustrated by: Aliaa Betawi

Published: 10/22/2024

A young Palestinian girl living in diaspora struggles to find her homeland on a map in this gentle and heartfelt picture book.

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.

AUTHOR BIO:

Maysa Odehis 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 Falasteenanswers the questions she was too shy to ask as a child of Palestinian refugees. Maysa resides in California with her four year old daughter, Malak, who asks questions all day long in Arabic and English, and sometimes even in her sleep.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO:
Aliaa Betawiis 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 Falasteenwas her opportunity to capture a single elusive memory in Palestine, a memory she could not enjoy as a Palestinian child in exile.

“[A Map for Falasteen] fills a gap in representations of the Palestinian diaspora, offering a much-needed insider’s perspective. . . . A haunting, powerful, and crucial tale of culture and identity.” –Kirkus,starred review

“While Falasteen learns of the destruction of Palestine, she also learns that she can turn to people and experiences to find the country itself. . . . With descriptive text and beautiful illustrations, this timely book is heavy with sadness yet buoyed by hope. A powerful read-aloud that will invite important discussions.” –Booklist,starred review

“Betawi renders Falasteen’s immediate surroundings in yellows and oranges that give way to deep-blue remembrances, while Odeh sensitively narrates this double debut about a family’s culture and homeland.” –Publishers Weekly,starred review

“There is an aching thrum of grief that moves though this thoughtfully nuanced picture book, and . . . the tone capably balances that sense of melancholy with quiet, celebratory notes, underscoring the book’s main message that culture is lovingly grown by people.” –BCCB