Hatem Aly
Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator who has illustrated many books for young people that earned multiple starred reviews and positions on the New York Times bestseller list including The Proudest Blue with Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali, In My Mosque with M. O. Yuksel, the Newbery Honor winner The Inquisitor’s Tale with Adam Gidwitz, The Unicorn Rescue Society series also with Adam Gidwitz and several amazing coauthors, The Yasmin series with Saadia Faruqi, Raj’s Rule (for the Bathroom at School) with Lana Button, How to Feed Your Parents with Ryan Miller, Takshira (Frown) with Naseeba Alozaibi You Are a Star, Jane Goodall with Dean Robbins, Ethan and the Strays by John Sullivan. Egyptian Lullaby with Zeena Pliska, and Salat in Secret with Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. He has more upcoming books and projects in the works. Hatem currently lives in New Brunswick, Canada, with his wife, son, and more pets than people.
Forthcoming title…
From a Pulitzer Prize–nominated author and a New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a heartfelt story about moving somewhere new, the meaning of home, and making new friends.
★ “Creativity, imagination, and humor run wild in this story. [It's] clearly Interrupting Chicken meets Harold and the Purple Crayon. . . . Aly’s illustrations are vibrant and full of the action and energy relayed in the text. Funny and wildly unpredictable, this will be a read-aloud hit. Recommended.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
★ "Immensely creative . . . Exciting [and] intricate." —BookPage (starred review)
★ "[Kids will] enjoy the silliness [and] the chaos that springs from each unexpected plot twist. . . . Vivid, expressive illustrations capture the characters’ shifting emotions, while creating lively backdrops . . . Sure to amuse." —Booklist (starred review)
“Heartwarming … A winning tale to be shared over and over.” —Kirkus, starred review
“The information about fencing will intrigue, but the true message here is of gaining self-assurance and feeling pride in oneself… This will encourage standing up with confidence.”—Booklist
★"An exceptionally warm and illuminating celebration." - Booklist, starred review
★ “A beautiful follow-up to the award-winning collaboration In My Mosque, this book reflects the diversity of Muslim communities around the world while uplifting the shared principles of the holy month of Ramadan.” - School Library Journal starred review
★ “An empowering and important tale of bravery.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Digital patterened art and vibrant backdrops....depict the tale’s ample emotions in this sincerely wrought celebration of family and faith.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A sweet peek into Egyptian family culture that is relatable to all." - School Library Journal
"A lovely ode to geographic, cultural, and familial ties." - Kirkus Reviews
"Resonant and stylistically unique." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“A warm testimonial to the life and achievements of Jane Goodall...An enticing invitation to be like the courageous and innovative primatologist profiled here.”--Kirkus Reviews
“Charming...Easy and engaging, this is an energetic biography in a pleasing format and is a strong first puchase.”--School Library Journal
★“Memorable and inspiring.... Triumphant and true.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★“A lovely blend of emotional lyricism and closely observed everyday life.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★“Aly’s ink-wash-and-pencil illustrations settle and soar along with the language.... This story, as both window and mirror, inevitably educates, but more important, it encourages pride in and respect for hijab through a tale of two sisters, their bond strengthened by faith.”—Booklist, starred review
★“This excellent story about identity, visibility, and confidence, touches on rites of passage, bonds between sisters, and bullying and is unapologetic in tackling misconceptions and demanding equality.”—School Library Journal, starred review
★“This personable, sensory love letter to a range of children’s mosque experiences will engage new learners and resonate with those already familiar.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★“This marvelous, welcoming book on mosques, Muslims, and Islam is a must, offering foundational knowledge on the world’s second largest religion.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Young readers are welcomed to a mosque brimming with faithful family, friends, and community. Both text and art convey some tenets of Islam and emphasize the mosque’s role as a place for faith and celebration.” —Horn Book
“A sympathetic treatment of a common but rarely depicted childhood anxiety.”-Kirkus Reviews
“Button subtly and effectively conveys how actions related to anxiety might disrupt a child’s academic and social performance, but this readaloud will resonate with any reader who has faced a fear.”-Publishers Weekly
“Told in rhyming couplets, this book will be great for young readers who have anxiety about using unknown restrooms, but most kids will relate to “holding it”... Not only is this a celebration of independent potty usage, this book is a terrific talking piece for overcoming personal fear.”-Booklist
★“Memorable and inspiring... Triumphant and true.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★“A lovely blend of emotional lyricism and closely observed everyday life.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★“Aly’s ink-wash-and-pencil illustrations settle and soar along with the language.... This story, as both window and mirror, inevitably educates, but more important, it encourages pride in and respect for hijab through a tale of two sisters, their bond strengthened by faith.”—Booklist, starred review
