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2025 Muslim Book Awards – Finalist

“A Syrian child’s tender ode to Damascus memorializes all that encompasses home…The people of Damascus, diverse in faith, skin tone, and dress, live in harmony, sharing food and a sense of community…Rich in imagery, Presley’s serene, immersive text conveys a child’s abiding love for a far-away home while offering a counternarrative to news headlines and images that focus on the war and destruction that have roiled Damascus: “My home is no pile of rubble”…A breathtaking narrative of love, courage, and optimism.”

– Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

The City of Jasmine

Written by Nadine Presley
Illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee
Published by HarperCollins

A young Syrian American girl remembers the beauty and joy of her home.

I come from the City of Jasmine,

where delicate blossoms spill from homes, balconies.

Sweet scents dance in the wind, filling air,

calming hearts.

Inspired by her own childhood in Damascus, Syria, Nadine Presley’s lyrical picture book offers a sincere view of the city and is brought to life with breathtaking illustrations by Heather Brockman Lee, which brim with wonder and love.

Primary ISBN: 9780063285088
Publication Date: May 2025
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

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

Setting: Unspecified (North America)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Refugee

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

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