About The Book

Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs. This gentle, moving story from first-time author Reem Faruqi comes to life in Lea Lyon’s vibrant illustrations.

Lyon uses decorative arabesque borders on intermittent spreads to contrast the ordered patterns of Islamic observances with the unbounded rhythms of American school days.

About The Author

Reem Faruqi based this book on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

About The Illustrator

Lea Lyon is an award-winning children’s book illustrator, painting teacher, and portrait artist who has made a childhood dream come true. Lea loved to draw and paint as a child, and she wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. She ended up raising a family, going back to school for an MBA, and working in the corporate world, but she kept painting.

Now, at long last, Lea is a children’s book illustrator with five published picture books: Say Something, Playing War, Keep Your Ear on the Ball (all with Tilbury), The Miracle Jar and Operation Marriage. She lives in Richmond, California.