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“In a touching picture book, Ghani and Alam craft an exuberant ode to a working father’s love…Bright, thin-lined illustrations incorporate the taxi’s signature hue and images of the car on a proscenium stage in this powerfully affectionate portrait of care that goes two ways.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Eloquent yet child-friendly…Alam’s fluid, bustling, cartoonish artwork carefully zeroes in on small details and builds creative compositions for a vivid tale that addresses socioeconomic realities. Sensitive, uplifting, and honest—a pitch-perfect portrait of a loving working-class family.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Baba Palooza

Written by A. D. Ghani
Illustrated by Nadia Alam
Published by Harry N. Abrams

When Aizah rides with her dad on Saturday mornings, she feels like a movie star—Baba in the driver’s seat, her in the back. Baba’s taxi seems brighter and the world seems bigger when they’re together.

Baba works long hours, so he can’t walk Aizah home from school and they rarely get to eat dinner together, but they still squeeze in family time however they can. So when Baba has to miss her school’s daddy-daughter dance, Aizah plans something SUPER-DUPER-EXTRA-SPECIAL to surprise him.

Spotlighting a Pakistani American Muslim family, this universal picture book is a proud love letter to working class parents, immigrants, and dads everywhere.

Primary ISBN: 9781419777158
Publication Date: April 2026
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book , Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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