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Baba, What Does My Name Mean? A Journey to Palestine
When Saamidah, a young Palestinian refugee, is asked by her friends what her name means, she isn't quite sure what to say. She turns to her baba for some answers - but what she gets is an adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Join Saamidah on a lyrical journey, with dazzling illustrations, that brings to life her beloved homeland and celebrates the richness of her cultural heritage and the determination to return.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 20, 2020
2 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 5, 2021
I'm constantly in awe of how well writers of children's books manage to intertwine difficult/painful things with so much softness and hope.
February 27, 2024
bless the souls who do read aloud's for picture books on youtube so that everyone can access them (given how pricey they are).
to see that palestine is such a culturally rich place but all that remains is rubble and death. it breaks my heart. i watched the short film i am from palestine before reading this (made by the same author).
you know what? i am no longer going to stay silent on the genocide.
i am on a very serious mission to unlearn and decolonise my life and this is a step in the right direction.
forgive me i'm going to go on a tangent: i am going to be reading, talking about and promoting lots of palestinian literature and just literature from the colonised, in general, and starting with picture books provides a great gateway to ease into this journey. one voice note from one of my closest friends (about taylor swift and her silence on the genocide along with so many others in the same category of people and re-evaluating putting celebrities on pedestals along with so many more related issues) sparked a deeply reflective journey for me. i have realised that most of the media i consume is so white and western and it has started to aggravate me so much (let's be real, most white content is very mediocre). i also watched past lives and monster recently along with a bunch of other asian films (or films made by asian people) and their method of storytelling is so careful, clever and meticulous. western media is now getting on my nerves. my exposure to the world is so limited due to my media and information consumption habits and that has to change. so does my silence on important issues. although i am just one person, change has to start somewhere. i know i am on the right track.
FREE 🍉🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸!!
to see that palestine is such a culturally rich place but all that remains is rubble and death. it breaks my heart. i watched the short film i am from palestine before reading this (made by the same author).
you know what? i am no longer going to stay silent on the genocide.
i am on a very serious mission to unlearn and decolonise my life and this is a step in the right direction.
forgive me i'm going to go on a tangent: i am going to be reading, talking about and promoting lots of palestinian literature and just literature from the colonised, in general, and starting with picture books provides a great gateway to ease into this journey. one voice note from one of my closest friends (about taylor swift and her silence on the genocide along with so many others in the same category of people and re-evaluating putting celebrities on pedestals along with so many more related issues) sparked a deeply reflective journey for me. i have realised that most of the media i consume is so white and western and it has started to aggravate me so much (let's be real, most white content is very mediocre). i also watched past lives and monster recently along with a bunch of other asian films (or films made by asian people) and their method of storytelling is so careful, clever and meticulous. western media is now getting on my nerves. my exposure to the world is so limited due to my media and information consumption habits and that has to change. so does my silence on important issues. although i am just one person, change has to start somewhere. i know i am on the right track.
FREE 🍉🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸!!
September 16, 2021
Saamidah, conflicted by the meaning of her name, asks her Baba for the answers which leads him to take her on an adventure throughout Palestine. Beautifully written with an important message during a crucial time in history for the Middle East. Saamidah learns to appreciate her name and culture which is something every child should come to know about themselves and other people. There are longer sentences in this book which may work better for slightly more advanced readers or if an adult is able to do an interactive read aloud and explain the meanings of different words and actions.
May 26, 2021
A beautifully illustrated and lyrically written read that captures the essence of each city within Palestine. It is a book that every child needs to have on their bookshelf, especially in this day and age. The story takes you on a magical journey that enables you to connect with various aspects of the Palestinian culture, and enables you to connect with the main character. Can't wait to read the next book!
June 26, 2021
Brilliant children's book
An amazing children's book that introduces the reader to the cities of Palestine (which some are now parts of Israel). The brilliant book is also complemented by beautiful illustrations.
An amazing children's book that introduces the reader to the cities of Palestine (which some are now parts of Israel). The brilliant book is also complemented by beautiful illustrations.
January 15, 2021
This lyrical journey through Palestine’s major cities, shares historical facts, geographical information, cultural richness, and love for a homeland that will inspire and educate all readers. There is a lot of information pressed in to 32 pages and at times the rhyming text, illustrations, and maps are powerful, and at other times overwhelming. The 8.5 x 11 horizontal paperback bound book needs to be bigger to hold all that the pages contain, and hard back to hold up to the details that need to be poured over to be appreciated. The content about the names and places in Palestine is priceless and well done, but I really wanted to love the book a bit more than I ended up feeling for it. I think trying to make it all rhyme was just a bit too much for my liking, but I would buy this book again in a heartbeat to share with my children. Even though we are not Palestinian, I think all Muslims have a piece of Palestine in our hearts and feel a deep need to celebrate the culture, fight for their freedom, and demand a quality of life that they are brutally being denied by their oppressors.
The book starts out at bedtime with a little girl, Saamideh asking her baba what her name means. He explains to her that it means “one who is patient, persistent and one who perseveres.” She is named this because she is Palestinian, he explains and then he shows her the key to their ancestral home in Palestine. He asks her to close her eyes and imagine a white dove, named Salam, taking her on tonight’s journey.
Salam and Samamidah prepare to journey across Palestine’s mountains, hills, deserts, and plains. They start in Areeha, one of the oldest cities in the world, and one one of the lowest points on Earth.
They journey next to Al-Quds, the capital. They see the old city, Al-Aqsa, and more, before heading off to Nablus, Yafa, Haifa and the Akka. Learning about the cities, the food, and the history of each.
img_7237 img_7238
They learn about the dabkah, and the weaving in Gaza and head to Bait Lahem too. They learn about glass blowing in Al-Khalil at the Ibrabhimi Mosque, and finally they conclude their journey with the little girl dreaming of flying around the world to use her key and open people’s hearts and minds.
She proudly exclaims her love of Palestine and her and her baba pray that one day they will be able to return. Saamidah then asks her baba why they are refugees, and he promises to save that conversation for tomorrow’s beditme story.
The book concludes with a list of the city names in Arabic, trasliterated in English, and then the English names. It then has discussion questions at the end.
The book is not outwardly political, nor critical. It is a celebration of a people, a culture, and land. Happy Reading!
The book starts out at bedtime with a little girl, Saamideh asking her baba what her name means. He explains to her that it means “one who is patient, persistent and one who perseveres.” She is named this because she is Palestinian, he explains and then he shows her the key to their ancestral home in Palestine. He asks her to close her eyes and imagine a white dove, named Salam, taking her on tonight’s journey.
Salam and Samamidah prepare to journey across Palestine’s mountains, hills, deserts, and plains. They start in Areeha, one of the oldest cities in the world, and one one of the lowest points on Earth.
They journey next to Al-Quds, the capital. They see the old city, Al-Aqsa, and more, before heading off to Nablus, Yafa, Haifa and the Akka. Learning about the cities, the food, and the history of each.
img_7237 img_7238
They learn about the dabkah, and the weaving in Gaza and head to Bait Lahem too. They learn about glass blowing in Al-Khalil at the Ibrabhimi Mosque, and finally they conclude their journey with the little girl dreaming of flying around the world to use her key and open people’s hearts and minds.
She proudly exclaims her love of Palestine and her and her baba pray that one day they will be able to return. Saamidah then asks her baba why they are refugees, and he promises to save that conversation for tomorrow’s beditme story.
The book concludes with a list of the city names in Arabic, trasliterated in English, and then the English names. It then has discussion questions at the end.
The book is not outwardly political, nor critical. It is a celebration of a people, a culture, and land. Happy Reading!
December 22, 2023
DRAFT:
This picture book presents a magical journey of a child to her family's ancestral homeland of Palestine, as a dream enabled by the key her father wears around his neck - the key to the home his family were forced to give up sometime after the creation of Israel.
This is a difficult topic to present, but important to face, since the Palestinian population is now in its 7th decade after the British Mandate forced removal from their homes. The news often skims over the fact that millions of families have raised their children with stories of their ancestral homeland that they cannot freely visit, let alone return to live.
Unfortunately, the author chose to tell the story in a monotonous, forced rhyme - many lines emphasize a trivial aspect of the scene described in order to rhyme. The doggerel is distracting and grating as a read-aloud, which it is clearly meant to be.
In providing the definition of her name, for example, her father says, "Saamidah is an Arabic word for one who is patient, persistent, and one who perseveres. One who will fight for their rights without any fear."
DRAFT
This picture book presents a magical journey of a child to her family's ancestral homeland of Palestine, as a dream enabled by the key her father wears around his neck - the key to the home his family were forced to give up sometime after the creation of Israel.
This is a difficult topic to present, but important to face, since the Palestinian population is now in its 7th decade after the British Mandate forced removal from their homes. The news often skims over the fact that millions of families have raised their children with stories of their ancestral homeland that they cannot freely visit, let alone return to live.
Unfortunately, the author chose to tell the story in a monotonous, forced rhyme - many lines emphasize a trivial aspect of the scene described in order to rhyme. The doggerel is distracting and grating as a read-aloud, which it is clearly meant to be.
In providing the definition of her name, for example, her father says, "Saamidah is an Arabic word for one who is patient, persistent, and one who perseveres. One who will fight for their rights without any fear."
DRAFT
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2024
Baba, What Does My Name Mean? : A Journey to Palestine is geared towards students at all levels because it can fit into many lessons. I picked this book because Baba in Polish and Russian means grandmother, and language connections fascinate me. The theme of this book is the importance of Palestine. The reader is taken on a journey through Palestine's geography, religion, food, dances, and the country's jobs, which are beautifully covered in this book. The text is easy to follow, and the illustrations bring the life journey. Teachers can use this in lower grades to introduce geography and have students color maps. Another lesson could be about different cultures' foods and how there are so many unique options throughout the world, as well as comparing the differences and similarities of the culinary world. Older students could start to learn what refugees are, understand that many ideas about Palestine are not actual, that the country has a rich history, and talk about what is currently going on there. Another lesson one can teach is the importance of one's name and their connection to that throughout life. Have students research what they represent and see if they agree or will try to make a new representation for that name. I enjoyed this book because I think there is an enormous misrepresentation of people's thoughts when they hear about Palestine. People are unaware of that beautiful land's rich history, influential art, and culture. I like how, as an educator, this book can be used to cover many lessons and open up acceptance of others. In my current district, we are seeing a significant increase in Palestinian students, and this book would be an excellent lesson for others to learn about where their fellow students are coming from. To help students become excited about their peers and the world experiences they have seen. Learning from other students about their culture is a priceless gift; this book opens the door to providing comfort for students from different countries to tell their experiences and stories.
May 18, 2025
A well-intended effort that falls short.
A young girl is asked by her classmates what her name, Saamldah, means in Arabic. When she does not know, she asks her father that night at bedtime. Her "bedtime story" is about Palestine, where father talks about historic cities (most have been renamed), food, and culture. Backmatter includes a list of Palestinian place names written in English and Arabic, some discussion questions, and solicited reviews.
Told in an often forced rhyming pattern, yet printed as a block text, the verbose nature of this work is too much for the age group it is intended (Preschool-grade 2) to comprehend. A good editor would have been very helpful in paring down and simplifying the text, making the resulting story more nearly match the title. It was a disappointment to see the answer to her question resolved on p.1 and the rest not much more than a report and description of Palestine. The digital artwork by Lamaa Jawhari is filled with the colors and patterns that one would expect to see in this region and culture.
This one was disappointing to me, as there are more recent books that cover the same territory. Save your $$ and encourage their use over this one, unless you have a large Palestinian community.
Optional for grades PreSchool-3.
A young girl is asked by her classmates what her name, Saamldah, means in Arabic. When she does not know, she asks her father that night at bedtime. Her "bedtime story" is about Palestine, where father talks about historic cities (most have been renamed), food, and culture. Backmatter includes a list of Palestinian place names written in English and Arabic, some discussion questions, and solicited reviews.
Told in an often forced rhyming pattern, yet printed as a block text, the verbose nature of this work is too much for the age group it is intended (Preschool-grade 2) to comprehend. A good editor would have been very helpful in paring down and simplifying the text, making the resulting story more nearly match the title. It was a disappointment to see the answer to her question resolved on p.1 and the rest not much more than a report and description of Palestine. The digital artwork by Lamaa Jawhari is filled with the colors and patterns that one would expect to see in this region and culture.
This one was disappointing to me, as there are more recent books that cover the same territory. Save your $$ and encourage their use over this one, unless you have a large Palestinian community.
Optional for grades PreSchool-3.
November 8, 2023
I think it is so important for children to be able to see themselves in books and I applaud this author for sharing her story and her culture. We do need diverse books. I would like to share a different story about my son's experience with this book being read aloud in his public school class. He came home in tears asking why anyone would want to eliminate Israel and those that live there. Words are powerful. Books are powerful. And this book contains a statement defined as antisemitic by the ADL. This world is too small for us all not to find a way to get along and love and respect one another and co-exist. I wish that message could have been included in this book.
December 8, 2021
This is a story about a girl named, Saamidah. She asks her father about the meaning of her name and he tells her a story about Palestine. This story takes Saamidah and the reader through an important time in history. Through this story, Saamidah learns more about her name and comes to appreciate the origin. In my opinion, this is something every child some know about themselves. Every child should be education on their culture so they can truly understand themselves and connect with others. Overall, this was a beautiful story and I would recommend it for ages 4-9.
March 26, 2024
Now this is what a children's book should be about. It's all about humanizing innocent people who dream of their homeland but are unfortunately refugees. Even though the little girl asks the question at the end of the book about why she's a refugee it can be used as a teachable moment. And for the record when the ADL (A pro-Israel lobbying group) is saying this is antisemitic, this book is supposed to be anti-zionist. In other words, it's saying that the Zionist apartheid government of Israel is what caused the little girl's family to be refugees.
Read
November 17, 2024"Baba, What Does My Name Mean?: A Journey to Palestine" follows a little girl on her journey with her dad as they make their way to Palestine to learn about their heritage and the meaning of her name. The books has themes of tradition, history, and identity. I would keep this book in my library because I love the story about Saamihad's name. I would read this book to either first or second graders.
December 31, 2023
Kirain isinya tentang makna sebuah nama, ternyata jauh lebih berisi, tentang kota-kota di Palestina dan ciri khasnya masing-masing. Dari Ariha (Jericho), Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Yafa (Jaffa)n, Bait Al Laham (Bethlehem), Al-Khalil (Hebron), hingga Akka, Nablus, dan Gaza.
July 13, 2024
❝𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞.❞
Aku membacanya sambil menahan air mata di pelupuk, sangat lembut seperti mimpi, membawaku pada petualangan yang bermakna.
Aku membacanya sambil menahan air mata di pelupuk, sangat lembut seperti mimpi, membawaku pada petualangan yang bermakna.
December 17, 2023
Feels like I'm flying around Palestine <3
January 30, 2024
https://arab.org/click-to-help/palest...
From the river to the sea
From the river to the sea
February 22, 2024
This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching tour through Palestine. FREE PALESTINE.
February 23, 2024
Lots of Palestinian information.
March 8, 2024
En utrolig fin bok om Palestinske steder, kultur, ord og uttrykk puttet inn i ett spennende barnlig undrende format. Anbefaler den for både store og små.
December 31, 2024
This book takes you on a heartwarming journey that beautifully captures the essence of Palestine through its gentle prose. The author's eloquent descriptions paint a vivid picture of the country's beauty, all the cities that existed before they were destroyed, making it a delightful experience to share with you child. The book not only explores the significance of different places but also weaves in the cultural richness of Palestine, creating a magical reading experience for both parent and child. Ebeid's ability to convey the beauty of the land in such a lovely manner makes this book a treasure for families seeking meaningful and enjoyable literature. If you want to raise kind, loving, tolerant children who are able to co-exist peacefully in this world, I highly recommend reading this book.
April 7, 2021
At a time when Palestines is derogatively depicted by mainstream media with damaging terminology and harmful stereotypes, this gorgeously illustrated picture book demonstrates literature’s superhero power to “open people’s minds [and] unlock all the truths about Palestine and educate everyone about its true history.” The response to the title, “Baba, What Does My Name Mean?” is Saamidah, “an Arabic word for one who is patient, persistent and one who perseveres. One who will fight for their rights without any fear.” Pairs well with my favorite dessert around the world Kunafa and Eman Quotah’s Bride of the Sea.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews