Aya Khalil
Aya Khalil (she/her), M.Ed, is an award-winning author, librarian and freelance journalist. She holds a master’s degree in Education with a focus in teaching English as a second Language. Aya and her books have been featured in Oprah Daily, Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Yahoo!, Book Riot and USA Today. Her writing has been published in The Huffington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, Toledo Area Parent and many others. Aya’s picture books and board books have won numerous awards and honors including The Arab American Book Award and NCTE’s Charlotte Huck Award. She resides in the midwest.
Books by Aya
"A sweet, warm tale of spiritual growth, patience, and perseverance. Ample backmatter offers more information about this important pillar of Islam, as well as instructions for creating Ramadan-themed crafts."—Kirkus Reviews
"Ramadan is the context for one girl’s growth ... Young readers will recognize the universal desire to finally be a 'big kid,' while the adults in their lives may appreciate a first look at how faith practices are not a light switch but instead provide lifelong challenges and opportunities."—Booklist
"In Khalil and Kheiriyeh’s encouraging tale, young Habeeba is determined to fast all day and stay up to pray Taraweeh at night, just like her older sister, Sumaya."—Publishers Weekly
Books made for the very youngest of readers!
Hello, wiggling toes! From splashing in the bath to wiggling in the sand, from pulling off socks to taking first steps, join baby in discovering what tiny feet can do.
High-contrast designs and photographs engage infants and toddlers
Photographs show a diverse cast of babies and families
Part of the Hello, Body! series
“A fun and informative foray into the Arabic language that combines Aya Khalil’s lilting rhymes with Chaymaa Sobhy’s vibrant illustrations, My First Book of Arabic Words is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library ABC and Arabic Language/Culture collections for children.” —Midwest Book Review
“It’s a great book using simple words and also ties Arab culture with it. If you’re looking for a beginner’s book to Arabic for your kids then this is the one.” —Nura’s Little Library, Bookstagram
★ “Khalil’s descriptive prose is filled with culturally specific details, including the use of Egyptian Arabic dialect and references to poetry, music, and food. Equally textured are Kheiriyeh’s illustrations, done in acrylic, oil, ink, spray paint, crayon, and pencil on watercolor paper. A beautiful story of joy, tradition, and family.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Not only is there lots to learn from this tale but there is also plenty for young ones to see; the illustrations are done in cozy hues of pink, teal, orange, and black by award-winning illustrator Kheiriyeh. Children will delight in spying Zain’s mischievous black-and-white cat, who is a vital part of the action. A solid and worthwhile purchase.”—School Library Journal
“Kheiriyeh’s mixed media illustrations use dappled backgrounds and crayon-textured lines to capture the essence of youthful excitement and anticipation. Rhythmic onomatopoeia in the text mimics the sensory pleasures of baking.”—BCCB
“This series offers solid glimpses of faraway places, more poetry than a tour guide . . . evocative and inviting” – School Library Journal
"This beautifully illustrated book comes at a time when it's really important to learn about immigrants, their cultures, and how to be accepting. The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story is about Kanzi, a little girl who wraps herself in the quilt her teita (grandma) gave her. After Kanzi writes a poem about said quilt, her teacher at school sees it and wants to create a paper collage quilt featuring the student's names in Arabic. "In the end, Kanzi's most treasured reminder of her old home provides a pathway for acceptance in her new one," the Goodreads description notes.And an added bonus to this story? There's a glossary of Arabic words and a "presentation of Arabic letters with their phonetic English equivalents," teaching children about another culture while reading a fun story. You can grab this story about acceptance in Feb. 2020.""— Abi Berwager Schreier, Romper