P is for Palestine: A Palestine Alphabet Book
(By Golbarg Bashi)
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ISBN-13: 978-0-9990020-0-1
The Stunning Large Hardcover Illustrated Children's Alphabet Book about Palestine with Advance Critical Acclaim (see endorsements below).
The tradition of alphabet books goes back several centuries. So far there have been countless alphabet books about most countries, cities, and themes in the world—helping inform children about any number of topics, nations and cultures other than their own. A is for America, B is for Brazil, and C is for Canada etc…But none about or for Palestine in the English language, until now!
“P is for Palestine…
Precious to me and my people, evergreen like a forest pine!”
“H is for Handala…
Hear his hellos, he is our hero!”
“R is for Ramallah…
Where rainbows come after the rain, Insha'Allah!”
Anyone who’s ever been to Palestine or has Palestinian friends, colleagues, neighbors knows that this proud Mediterranean nation is at the center of our world. It is home to the sweetest oranges, most intricate embroideries, great dance moves (Dabkeh), fertile olive groves, and sunniest people! Inspired by Palestinian people’s own rich history in the literary and visual arts, we have created a book titled P is for Palestine in English where we tell the story of the Palestine that we love as simply as ABC…in an educational, colorful, empowering way, showcasing the beauty and strength of Palestinian culture— and we are offering our forthcoming book at a reduced price to our community who have in turn enabled our independent self-publishing endeavor (We had super successful crowd-fundraiser at LaunchGood.com and can now offer our book to you independently on our own Etsy shop)!
Now for $24.99, you can pre-order the second edition of the unprecedented "P is for Palestine" with free U.S. shipping! Having sold out the first edition of the book within days of its launch in November, 2017. We anticipate the delivery time of the second edition of our book to be in Spring 2018.
P is for Palestine is the realization of our collective dream to take children and grownups alike on a alphabetic trip to Palestine. The team behind this book are Middle Eastern-Swedish storyteller Golbarg Bashi aka Dr. Bashi and Golrokh Nafisi, a globally acclaimed illustrator.
Dr. Bashi, who’s sort of nuts about the alphabet, conceived of the idea for P is for Palestine when she couldn’t find such a book for her own children and for the school visits she regularly conducts in New York City public schools. She’s in the habit of buying or borrowing books about cities, countries, and artists whenever she and her family are traveling to those destinations. So when Dr. Bashi asked Golrokh Nafisi (who has a impressive body of work painting Middle Eastern themes and children) if she’d be interested in illustrating the book, Golrokh immediately said YES! And thus began our journey in publishing P is for Palestine!
The simple story of Palestine is today shrouded in convoluted misinformation and contested narratives. But at the heart of the matter stands a proud people with a compelling truth which sustain their historic struggles to tell their story of dispossession to the world. Our P is for Palestine is a modest step in that direction.
The story of Palestine is the story of our humanity at large. It is story of all people, all nations, throughout history, seeking a pride of place. —Golbarg Bashi, Ph.D.
Furthermore, children the world over are increasingly exposed to a barrage of psychologically damaging disinformation that violates the sanctity of their young life and compromises their trust in the world. In this book we wish to tell the story of Palestine in a manner that enriches their hope in our future. As a result, P is for Palestine will follow in the footsteps of great many alphabet books about countries, customs and the beauty of the world around us in good ‘ol English and other European languages!
Watch Our Music Video for the Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ppP...
Meet The Author: Golbarg Bashi aka Dr. Bashi
I was born into a family of artists and educators in south-western Iran—near the Iraqi border—a few years before the Iraq-Iran war started. When I was in middle school, my family and I fled to Sweden as political refugees. In Sweden, I met children from other war-zones and learned about Nakba and the plight of Palestinian refugees. Today, I am university professor, a toy-maker, a visual artist and a storyteller based in New York. I have a daughter and son both in elementary school. Walking into our local bookstore or surfing the internet in search of good books to read are among our most precious experiences. Every time my children and I are standing in front of a table full of books for children in a bookstore, in my mind I start imagining the books I wish were there and are not. Beyond wishing, I decided to do something about the lack of diversity in children’s books. I enrolled in a course on How to Write Children’s Books taught by the preeminent American children’s author and illustrator Peter Catalanotto at my alma mater, Columbia University. The very place I received my Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies a few years earlier. Furthermore, with the help of a world-renowned typographer Kourosh Beigpour, I began making pedagogically-advanced educational wood blocks in Arabic and Persian—made ethically in Vermont, USA (Dr. Bashi™). The work I’ve done in this venture has earned me a nomination for a prestigious U.S. toy industry award where I was shortlisted for the Designer/Inventor category at the Women In Toys Wonder Woman Awards.
Meet The Illustrator: Golrokh Nafisi
I am a published children’s book illustrator, animator and puppet maker engaged in the contemporary conceptual art scene. I was born three years after the Iranian revolution in Isfahan, Iran. In my work, I cover daily events, lives of ordinary people and the politics of Middle Eastern societies. I'm drawn to realism and love to use bold colors with strong social commentary. Furthermore I experiment with performances in public spaces and I am interested in discovering new forms of collective action, involving bodies and human ideologies. I am a graduate of Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam (2014) and hold a B.F.A. in Design from the Tehran University of Art, which is one of Asia’s oldest and most prestigious art schools. Most recently my puppets went on stage in a production named “Wawara” at Théâtre Marni in Brussels, Belgium. The play “Wawara” was a poetic dance performance for children aged five years and older—telling the universal story of our diverse world where everyone is looking for a place to fit in. In 2012, my short film titled “My Glorious Childhood” was selected and screened at the Rotterdam International Film Festival (IFFR) in Holland.
ADVANCED PRAISE
"This powerful book will prove to be pivotal for so many young Palestinians on their search for identity and belonging, and will introduce countless others to a place and people that have been marginalized for too long in their struggle for equality. I can't wait to buy copies for my niece, and her friends. P is for 'Palestine', and also for 'Proud'."
—Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, Palestinian-American Emmy-nominated journalist, broadcaster, and senior correspondent for AJ+.
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“You will fall in love with this innovative, much needed, and beautifully illustrated Palestinian alphabet book. Highly recommended!”
—Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, author of “Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People” and a foremost authority on media images of Arabs and Muslims in American Popular Culture.
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“This book provides an attractive and thoughtful introduction to the heritage and culture of Palestine that will be appreciated by children whose families come from Palestine, and by children everywhere.”
—Dr. Rashid Khalidi, globally renowned Palestinian-American scholar, author, and the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University.
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“Golbarg Bashi’s “P is for Palestine” is a moving journey of alphabetical letters becoming a bridge, a boat that connects us to our homeland and our heritage, while yearning for freedom and peace in Palestine.”
—Rula Jebreal, award-winning Palestinian author, film-maker, journalist, and foreign policy analyst.
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“I'm so happy to live in a world where a book like "P is for Palestine" exists. If I had had something like this as a child, I would have felt so much less alone and so much more interested in my culture, instead of wondering why no one else seemed to know the words that were so comforting and real to me. I cannot wait to give a copy to my niece, nephew, and every other little Arab American child, who will not only be able to learn from this book, but will also be able to feel proud of where she is from, and, consequently, rooted deeply in the world.”
—Najla Said, Palestinian-American playwright, actress and author of “Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family.”
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“Palestine is our story, and our story begins with the alphabet.Every letter a direction. Stunningly illustrated. A dream-book for all ages.”
—Nathalie Handal, Award-winning Palestinian poet and writer
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“G for GREAT...P for PEACE IN PALESTINE.”
—Marwan Bishara, internationally renowned Palestinian author, broadcaster and chief political analyst at Al Jazeera Media Network and host of its flagship show EMPIRE.
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“I wish I had a book like this when I was a child! Fantastic and fun... a great way to show children another world and open their minds. It's especially exciting to me as a Palestinian as I always want to find ways to show my baby she can feel proud of her culture and have fun at the same time. Colorful, truly original and a delight for young and old!”
—Annemarie Jacir, Academy Award Nominated Palestinian Filmmaker (When I Saw You)
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“A book for our children that teaches self-love and pride. A book for our friends that shares a central piece of our lives. A book for ourselves that sings without apology: P is for Palestine and all of its wonders that make it home."
—Noura Erakat, internationally renowned Palestinian-American human rights attorney, academic and activist.
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“P is for Palestine is a colorful manifestation of all that is beautiful about the land of my parents and ancestors. This book is a gift that takes you on a journey of love, life and resilience; the virtues of my beloved Palestine.”
—Linda Sarsour, award-winning Palestinian Muslim American Activist
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“Golbarg Bashi takes children (and parents) into Palestine, illustrated beautifully with Golrokh Nafisi drawings. P is for Palestine is a must for anyone who grew up with fragmented past and is looking to changing today's stereotypes.”
—Najwa Najjar, award-winning Palestinian filmmaker (Eyes of a Thief - Pomegranates and Myrrh).”
