Yvonne Wakim Dennis - A Kids Guide to Arab American History. More Than 50 Activities

Chock-full of fascinating insights into a vibrant, inspiring community, punctuated by fun (even delicious) activities, this book taught me so much! Every American kid should read it, and every American grown-up, too.

Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Jingle Dancer

Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Maha Addasi have woven a rich tapestry of the Arab American experience for young readers. History, achievements, trails blazed, challenges faced, and material and social cultureall of it is rendered accessible through the stories of people and communities, some familiar and others much less well known. Numerous craft activities engage attention and imagination by tapping the senses.

Uma Krishnaswami, author of The Grand Plan to Fix Everything.

A Kids Guide to Arab American History is the ultimate eye-opening introduction to Arab Americans! The authors have skillfully combined informative, engagingly written text with an impressive variety of imaginative crafts and activities from each of the Arab countries, suitable for elementary-age children. This book is just right for families, schools, and anyone who values the incredible richness of our immigrant American nation.

Elsa Marston, author of Figs and Fate: Stores About Growing Up in the Arab World Today

This book is a delight to read; offering much-needed insights about our neighbors, Americans with Arab roots who have contributed so very much to our society.

Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, author of Guilty: Hollywoods Verdict on Arabs After 9/11

With its focus on interesting hands-on activities and fascinating profiles of notable as well as ordinary Arab Americans, this book will definitely help dispel many negative stereotypes. Its a much-needed resource that highlights the rich and diverse histories, traditions, cultures, and religions of the most dominant Arab American groups in the US. I highly recommend it.

Jama Rattigan, author of Dumpling Soup

Copyright 2013 by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Maha Addasi

All rights reserved

First edition

Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated

814 North Franklin Street

Chicago, Illinois 60610

ISBN 978-1-613 74-017-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dennis, Yvonne Wakim.

A kids guide to Arab American history : more than 50 activities / Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Maha Addasi. 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-61374-017-0 (pbk.)

1. Arab AmericansHistoryJuvenile literature. 2. Arab AmericansHistoryStudy and teachingActivity programsJuvenile literature. I. Addasi, Maha, 1968II. Title.

E184A65D46 2013

973.004927073dc23

2012035758

Cover and interior design: Scott Rattray

Interior illustrations: Gail Rattray

Printed in the United States of America

5 4 3 2 1

We dedicate this book to the wisdom of children and our dreams that when they grow up they will wind the world well.

From Yvonne

The courage of Jack Shaheen and Barbara Nimri Aziz inspired me to write this book, and their guidance and encouragement helped me finish it. Thank you, Dr. Jack, for taking the time to be our professional reader. I am indebted to you, Barbara, for directing me to activities and places I needed to be. Kathleen Brown McNalley and Dawi Winstonyou ground me. wado, Thanks to my son, Jiman, and friends Angela, Irma, Sharon, Khadija, Arlene, and Luca, and especially my very patient husband, who took over my tasks. Thanks for your attention to detail, Michelle Schoob. Cynthia Sherrywado for doing the right thing with both my books! Your vision and commitment to helping make America the inclusive society it needs to be is remarkable!

From Maha

Thanks to the people who will read this book with an open mind and heart and to my children, who give me the peace of mind to write.

Maha and Yvonne are both grateful to these wonderful folks who filled in the blanks and didnt mind being interviewed and pumped for information: Adil Oualim, Akram Khater, Douglas Haddad, Elsa Marston, Jeffrey Saad, Joseph Haiek, Joseph Kassab, Khalil Hachem, Laila Al-Qatami, Liz Behrend, Malika Zarra, Musa Hamideh, Naef Al-Mutawa, Paul Ibrahim, Pauline Kaldas, Ray Saeid, Sarab Al-Jijakli, Naomi Shihab Nye, Helen Zughaib, Hani Shihada, Susan Joseph Kientz.

M y journey started in Kuwait, where I grew up in a mixed Arab and American community with Arab friends who shared the same traditions and foods as my family. I also had American friends who taught me how to build the perfect hamburger, how to furnish a dollhouse, and everything anyone needed to know about Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

Our neighborhood celebrated the national, traditional, and cultural holidays, both Arab and American, like Eid, Thanksgiving, and Easter. I was an Arab Muslim girl who helped untangle Christmas tree lights, sang in the choir, and, one year, played the piano to accompany the choir. I loved it all. When I attended college in the United States, I brought this sense of intercultural exchange and shared it with my college friends, some of whom visited me in the Arab world.

Years later, I had the opportunity to immigrate to the United States and make America my home. My children were born here. I wanted to keep the balance of Arab and American in their life, which grows ever more challenging. Arabs, Arab Americans, and Arab cultures are often treated in a very negative way in the United States. The idea behind A Kids Guide to Arab American History was to bring to light real Arab American culture and the people who have contributed to the fabric of the United States.

Maha Addasi

My dear friend and coauthor of many books, Arlene Hirschfelder, and my wonderful husband, Roger Dennis, pushed me to write A Kids Guide to Arab American History. Over the years, I had become more angry and dismayed at the untruths and stereotypes aimed at Arabs and Arab American people. For most of my life, I have addressed racism directed at all groups, but particularly First Nations peoples. I am fortunate to be both Indigenous American and Arab American, two of the most misrepresented peoples in history! Through my books, I have tried to set the record straight about Native peoples; it is time to do the same regarding Arab Americans. Much like the Hollywood Indian, who was violent and not too smart, Arab Americans are portrayed as unrealistic and unpleasant characters. None of these portrayals resemble anyone in my family or community, people who are hard working, brilliant, loyal, and deeply spiritual citizens. My very Syrian grandparents would be proud that I wrote a book that tells a bit about their history in America, and my very Cherokee/Sand Hill grandparents would be proud that I walk in balance and honor all of my ancestors.

Yvonne Wakim Dennis

800 BCE-1000 CE Ancient mariners from the Middle East are thought to have traveled to the Americas. They call it Ard Majhoola.