Arab American Heritage
Month Booklist
April 2014
Arab Americans and Americans of Middle Eastern heritage have a long history in the United
States. The first wave began to arrive in the 1870s with a second wave in the 1990s. They are
U.S. military heroes, entertainers, politicians and scientists. Although a majority are Lebanese
(Christian), many are Syrian, Egyptian, Iraqi and more. Arab American Heritage Month,
observed in April by several states and at many colleges and universities, marks a time to reflect
on the contributions Arab Americans have made to the U.S. and the diverse group of people
who make up the nation’s Middle Eastern population. Each school often selects a theme for
their events. The theme for Arab American Heritage Month 2014 at Montgomery College in
Rockville, MD is “The Power of Cross-Cultural Dialogue on the Road of Consciousness.”
Lebanese immigrant Abe Doumar (1881-1947) is known in Norfolk for inventing the ice cream
cone in 1904 at the St. Louis World’s Fair. His ice cream stand at the 1907 Jamestown
Exposition led to the present-day, family-owned Doumar’s in Norfolk which still serves ice
cream using the original cone machine.
All books and videos are available at the Norfolk Public Library, and the websites may be
viewed online at home or any of the public computer stations located in any branch library.
ADULT FICTION
The following selected fiction includes titles by award winning authors, recent best sellers,
novels that are acclaimed, or titles that provide important insight into the history of Arab
American heritage and culture.
Arabian Jazz
(Diana Abu-Jaber)This novel explores the lives of the members of an Arab American family, a
father and his two daughters, living in upstate New York. They are, as the saying goes, caught
between two worlds, maintaining the vestiges of a traditional family structure but without the
social setting or the rituals to make it work. Arabian Jazz is a compelling look at the odd ways
members of families, Arab or otherwise, finds to get along with each other.
Crescent
(Diana Abu-Jaber) Diana Abu-Jaber weaves with spellbinding magic a multidimensional
love story set in the Arab-American community of Los Angeles.
Girls of Riyadh
(Rajaa Alsanea) The tale of four young women university students from Riyadh follows
their struggles to navigate the precarious paths between desire, fulfillment, and Islamic
tradition while witnessing how the Arab world is being changed by new economic and
political realities.
The Hakawati
(Rabih Alameddine) In 2003, Osama al-Kharrat returns to Beirut after many years in
America to stand vigil at his father’s deathbed. The city is a shell of the Beirut Osama
remembers, but he and his friends and family take solace in the things that have always
sustained them: gossip, laughter, and, above all, stories. Osama’s grandfather was a
hakawati, or storyteller, and his bewitching stories--of his arrival in Lebanon, an orphan
of the Turkish wars, and of how he earned the name al-Kharrat, the fibster--are interwoven
with classic tales of the Middle East, stunningly reimagined. Here are Abraham and Isaac;
Ishmael, father of the Arab tribes; the ancient, fabled Fatima; and Baybars, the slave prince who
vanquished the Crusaders. Here, too, are contemporary Lebanese whose stories tell a larger,
heartbreaking tale of seemingly endless war--and of survival.
The Inheritance
(Sahar Khalifah) In this powerful novel, acclaimed Palestinian author Sahar Khalifeh
examines the stark realities in the lives of Palestinian women. Through her protagonist,
Zeynab, born to an American mother and a Palestinian father, Khalifeh illuminates the
disorienting experience of living between two worlds, and the search for identity that
mirrors the Palestinians’ own quest for nationhood. As the story of an immigrant torn
between two cultures and struggling to adapt to both, Zeynab’s tale touches on universal
themes that will resonate with readers everywhere.
Voices from the Other World: Ancient Egyptian Tales
(Naguib Mahfouz) They are the tales that make up this volume of five masterly stories by
the young Naguib Mahfouz, all inspired by the Egypt of the pharaohs. These stories reveal
his wide reading of Egypt’s (and the world’s) oldest history and literature. Their voices
speak with the familiar genius of Egypt’s greatest modern writer - though they call from a
very different world than the one for which he is best known.
ADULT NONFICTION
The following list is selected nonfiction by award winning authors, recent best sellers, titles that are
acclaimed, or titles that provide important insight to the history of Arab American heritage and culture.
Abu Jmeel’s Daughter and Other Stories: Arab Folk Tales from Palestine and Lebanon
(Jamal Sleem Nuweihed) Rich in cultural significance, each title in this bestselling series
includes a collection of 20 to 30 tales together with an introduction and a historical
overview that give the reader compelling insights into the culture, the folk literature, and
the lives of the people in the region.
The Arab Americans: A History
(Gregory Orfalea) Over 100 years of the history of Arab Americans combines a historian’s
research with the vivid storytelling of a poet and novelist.
Arabic For Dummies
(Amine Bouchentouf) The fast and easy way to learn to speak Modern Standard Arabic
Regarded as one of the most difficult languages to learn for native English speakers, Arabic
is gaining global prominence and importance. Recent world events have brought more and
more English speakers into contact with Arabic-speaking populations, and governments
and businesses are increasingly aware of the importance of basic Arabic language skills.
The Arabs
(Joan Brodsky Schur) Collection of essays describing the conditions in Arab countries that
led to major migration to the United States, life in America after the immigrants arrived,
and the assimilation of Arabs into American culture.
Being Muslim: A Groundwork Guide
(Haroon Siddiqui) Since 9/11, the world has been confronted with the most volatile facets of
Islam with little explanation of how or why these controversial elements developed. Written by
one of North America’s most honored journalists, Being Muslim presents an up-front and
clear explanation of this complex and emotion-laden subject. In speaking about and
crossing political, cultural, and religious divisions, the author offers a unique perspective
based on life in Canada, a country in which diverse groups of people have found a way to
live in peace. Aimed at young adults, the book offers invaluable insight to readers of all
ages, cultures, and religious traditions.
Cardamom and Lime: Recipes from the Arabian Gulf
(Sarah Al-Hamad) This stunning book contains a wealth of delicious recipes that reflect
the flavors and traditional dishes of the Arabian Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United
Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Little is known in the West about this rich cuisine.
Cardamom and Lime provides readers with an inspiration to create these wonderful
dishes.
E-mails From Scheherazad
(Mohja Kahf) Kahf establishes herself as a new voice in the tradition of ethnic American poets,
blending the experiences of recent Arab-American immigrants into contemporary
American scenery. In her poems, Muslim ritual and Qur’anic vocabulary move in
next door to the idiom of suburban Americana, and the legendary Scheherazad of
the Thousand and One Nights shows up in New Jersey, recast as a sophisticated
postcolonial feminist.
Grape Leaves : A Century of Arab-American Poetry
(Gregory Orfalea) Arab-American poetry is an especially rich, people-involved, passionate
literature that has been spawned, at least until recently, in isolation from the American
mainstream. This anthology reflects the current renaissance in the literature of what may be
the latest ethnic community to assert itself.
How Does It Feel to Be A Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America
(Moustafa Bayoumi) A study of the Arab- and Muslim-American experience as
reflected in the lives of seven young men and women in Brooklyn evaluates their
encounters with prejudice and their relationships with friends and family members in
the Middle East.
I killed Scheherazade: Confessions of an Angry Arab Woman
(Joumana Haddad) Joumana Haddad is angry. She finds the West’s portrayal of Arab
women appalling and the image projected by many Middle Eastern women infuriating.
Fiery and candid, this provocative exploration of what it means to be an Arab woman
today will enlighten and inform a new international feminism.
Read & Speak Arabic For Beginners: The Easiest Way to Learn to Communicate Right
Away!
(Mahmoud Gaafar) Learn helpful Arabic vocabulary without being intimidated by its
non-Roman script by providing an accessible, entertaining program that will reinforce
vocabulary as well as help you create basic structures.
Understanding Islam and the Muslims: The Muslim Family and Islam and World
Peace
(T. J Winter) Myths and misunderstandings continue to proliferate about Islam and its
millions of followers worldwide. To refute these misconceptions, this newly-expanded,
magnificently illustrated version offers succinct, and sometimes surprising, answers to the
frequent questions about the Muslim faith in an accessible question and answer
format.
Where to Find Your Arab-American or Jewish Genealogy Records: Also: Mediterranean,
Assyrian, Iranian, and Greek & Armenian
(Anne Hart) Find out how and where to find your Arab-American or Jewish genealogy
records. Also Mediterranean, Assyrian, Iranian, Greek & Armenian for all faiths.
Genealogy-family history research-opens portals to the artistic, cultural, religious,
social, historical, and economic environment in which a particular item was designed
and brought forth, from people to their icons.
Zeitoun
(Dave Eggers) The true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy
disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina.
Juvenile Fiction
The following selected fiction is to inform young people about Arab history and
culture through contemporary and historical fiction novels by award winning
authors, recent best sellers, acclaimed novels, and titles that provide important
insight to the history of the Arab heritage and culture.
Aladdin and The Magic Lamp
(Carl Bowen) The story of Aladdin, a poor youth living in Al Kal’as. One day, the crafty
boy outsmarts an evil sorcerer, getting his hands on a magical lamp that houses a wish-fulfilling
genie! Soon, all of Aladdin’s dreams come true, and he finds himself wealthy and married to a
beautiful princess. All is well until, one day, the evil sorcerer returns to reclaim the
magical lamp.
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
(Matthew K.Manning) The story of Ali Baba, a young Persian boy who discovers a
cave filled with gold and jewels, the hidden treasures of forty deadly thieves.
Unfortunately, his greedy brother, Kassim, cannot wait to get his hands on the riches.
Returning to the cave, he is captured by the thieves and killed, and now the evil men
want revenge on Ali Baba as well.
Deep In the Sahara
(Kelly Cunnane) An Arab girl of the Sahara who wants to wear a malafa, the veiled
dress worn by her mother and older sister, learns that the garment represents beauty, mystery,
tradition, belonging, and faith.
The Seven Voyages of Sinbad
(Martin Powell) The story of Sinbad the Sailor, who sets sail in search of great riches and
discovers even greater adventures. On his seven treacherous voyages, the Persian explorer
braves a shipwreck, fights off savage cannibals, and battles a giant Cyclops, surviving to tell his
legendary tales.
Juvenile Nonfiction
The following list of selected nonfiction is to educate young people about Arab history and
culture by award winning authors, recent best sellers, titles that are acclaimed, or titles that
provide important insight to the history of the Arab heritage and culture.
An Ancient Heritage: The Arab-American Minority
(Brent Ashabranner) Discusses the cultural experience of Arab Americans and the history of
Arab immigration to the United States.
The Arab Americans
(Alixa Naff) Discusses the history, culture, and religion of the Arabs, factors encouraging
their emigration, and their acceptance as an ethnic group in North America.
The Arabian Nights
(Wafa Tarnowska) Lebanese author Wafa’ Tarnowska opens a window into the Arab
world with her magnificent new translation of eight stories from A Thousand and One
Nights. This edition is notable for combining favorites such as Aladdin and the
Wonderful Lamp with less familiar tales such as The Diamond Anklet and The Speaking
Bird and the Singing Tree. The collection also features the frame story about Shahriyar
and Shahrazade.
Everyday Life in the Ancient Arab and Islamic World
(Nicola Barber) Traces the history of the Arab and Islamic world, the birth of the
Prophet Muhammad, their religion, customs, architecture, agriculture, and wars.
Grandma Hekmatt Remembers: An Arab-American Family Story
(Ann Morris) Three Arab-American girls learn about their family and cultural history from their
grandmother, who grew up in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to New Jersey after her marriage.
Includes directions for making Egyptian paper boats. Encourages kids to explore their
own genealogy- Timely--demystifies the hijab and other aspects of Arab cultureSeries teacher guide available.
How Many Donkeys?: An Arabic Counting Tale
(Margaret Read MacDonald) Jouha is loading his donkeys with dates to sell at the
market. How many donkeys are there? His son helps him count ten, but once the journey starts,
things change. First there are ten donkeys, and then there are nine! When Jouha stops to count
again, the lost donkey is back. What’s going on? Silly Jouha doesn’t get it, but by the end of the
story, wise readers will be counting correctly-and in Arabic!
DVD
The following selected films are to provide insight to the history of Arab heritage and culture
through fictional accounts or documentaries. (Unless otherwise noted, DVDs are for mature
audiences)
Amreeka
Muna Farah, a Palestinian single mom, struggles to maintain her optimistic spirit in the
daily grind of intimidating West Bank checkpoints, the constant nagging of a
controlling mother, and the haunting shadows of a failed marriage. Everything changes
one day when she receives a letter informing her that her family has been granted a
U.S. green card, and she moves with her teenage son to small town Illinois.
Arab-American Heritage (Juvenile)
Exciting adventures appear at every turn as children are introduced to the fascinating counties
of the Arab World and see the many cultural influences that have been brought to the United
States by Arab Americans.
Cheb Mami: The Kid
Cheb Mami is one of the biggest stars in Arabic music, the creator of a new category of
world music called “Rai” -- Arabic rock ‘n roll with the virtues of traditional music
infused with urban urgency.
Destination the Middle East
Traveler Ian Wright starts his journey in Jordan’s Wadi Rum Desert, traveling south past
the ruins at Petra and then on to Beirut in Lebanon. He ends his journey in Syria at the
ancient town of Palmyra. Further, south traveler Megan McCormick visits battle
scarred Kuwait before traveling on to Dubai and finally Oman. Justine Shapiro
completes the journey traveling through Israel and the Sinai Desert.
Muhammad: The Last Prophet (Juvenile)
Set around 1400 years ago during the early years of Islam. Relates the events that
unfolded and led to the rise of a renewed religion in the Arabian Desert, eventually
spanning seven continents and counting 1.6 billion adherents around the world.
Introduces Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.
Thief of Bagdad (Juvenile)
When Prince Ahmad is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar; he joins
forces with the scrappy thief Abu to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a
beautiful princess. Considered one of the most spectacular fantasy films ever made.
ONLINE DATABASES
The following databases are respected and authoritative places to go for information about people and
historical events in British American history. Many include video, primary documents and photographs.
For access from home or elsewhere, use your 13-digit library card number as your password.
Ancestry Library Edition
More than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases. Includes records from the United States
Census; military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church
records; directories; passenger lists and more. [This database is available only
inside the Library.]
Biography In Context
Includes full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals. A searchable resource based
on one or more personal facts such as birth and death year, nationality, ethnicity
(including Arab American), occupation or combine criteria to create a highlytargeted custom search.
Encyclopedia of World Biography
Approximately 7,000 biographies on notables from every part of the world and
from all time periods. Includes thousands of photos, a consolidated index, and
more.
Rocket Languages
Learn introductory Arabic with on your own terms and in your own time. With Rocket
Language's comprehensive multi-media packages you will be speaking
and improving your language skills with every lesson by taking part in the
modern, everyday conversations that make up their Interactive Audio Course.
World Book Online Reference Center
Containing every article from the 22-volume print set plus thousands more. This
database has state-of-the-art multimedia, maps, editor-reviewed Web sites, and
more.
Websites
The following websites will provide information for those who are interested in the research of Arab
history and culture in America and throughout the world, providing insight from recent issues to ancient
history.
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
www.adc.org
Founded in 1980, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab
American grassroots organization committed to protecting civil rights, promoting mutual
understanding, and preserving the Arab American cultural heritage.
Arab American Association
http://aaa-us.org/aaa/
The Arab American Association is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organization
established to document, preserve, celebrate, and educate the public on the history, life,
culture and contributions of Arab Americans.
Arab American Historical Foundation (AAHF)
www.arabamericanhistory.org
The Arab American Historical Foundation (AAHF) is dedicated to promote research,
preservation and dissemination of Arab American history and culture.
Arab American Institute (AAI)
www.aaiusa.org
The Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and
political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent. AAI represents the policy and
community interests of Arab Americans throughout the U.S. through two primary focus
areas: campaigns and elections, and policy formulation and research. Includes a list of famous
Arab Americans.
Arab American National Museum (AANM)
www.arabamericanmuseum.org/
The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves and presents the history, culture
and contributions of Arab Americans.
Doumar's: A Recipe for Success
http://tinyurl.com/mg3vtxt
"A WHRO TV documentary on the history of Doumar's Cones & Barbecue Drive-In in Norfolk,
Virginia, founded by Lebanese immigrant Abe Doumar (1881-1947). Includes an interview with
his nephew, Albert Doumar (1922-2014).
Network of Arab-American Professionals (NAAP)
www.naaponline.org
In 2001, a group of college students in Washington, DC founded NAAP to provide graduating
Arab students with a means to continue their community activism and involvement after
college through community advancement, and professional networking. More than a decade
later, NAAP is one of the fastest growing Arab-American organizations with numerous chapters
and local networks developing across the U.S.
Norfolk Public Library
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www.npl.lib.va.us / www.facebook.com/NorfolkPublicLibrary