A Map for Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search for Home
Written by Maysa Odeh
Illustrated by Aliaa Betawi
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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.
Primary ISBN: 9781250896704
Publication Date: October 2024
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Picture Book, Age 06 or older
Community Represented: Palestinian/Palestinian American
Themes: Accolades & Awards, Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Discrimination: Cultural, Event: MCSTOYA Connects: Migration Reads, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Format: Audiobook, IYNB Recommends: ASCA School Counselors 2026, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Refugee: Persecution, Refugee: War/Conflict, Setting: Refugee Camp, Trauma & Healing: Intergenerational
Setting: Diaspora
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: New Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
Click here for details about how we define our titles.
Engagement Projects & Resources:
Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.