TEHRAN- As an ancient land rich in culture and the home of Abrahamic religions, Palestine has deep roots in history; roots that the usurper Zionist regime is trying to deny and erase. The Palestinian people have a significant history in literature. They have always sought to narrate the history of their land, as well as the history of the crimes committed by the Israeli regime, through their writing over generations.

On the other hand, storytelling is one of the oldest methods of education and has taken many forms over the years. Stories can be used to convey basic information, social customs, and more. As one of the branches of literature, children's literature has grown over time and evolved into a multifaceted genre that includes works such as novels and poems.

Children's books on the subject of Palestine are among the most important works by both Palestinian authors, such as Shereen Malherbe, Rifk Ebeid, and Wafa Shami, and non-Palestinian authors from around the world.

These books may not be taken seriously because they are written for children; however, they address the most crucial age to plant the seeds of truth in the minds of Palestinian, and especially non-Palestinian children, informing future generations about the bloody roots of Israel. This defines the undeniable role of this category of children's literature.

Shereen Malherbe is a British-Palestinian author who has written children's books such as “The Girl Who Lives Between Two Worlds” and “The Girl Who Stitched the Stars,” as well as Palestinian novels like “Yassini Girls” and “Jasmine Falling.”

In an interview with the Tehran Times, Malherbe explained the importance of writing this group of books in the fight against Israeli propaganda: “Media is a powerful tool, and we have been bombarded with anti-Muslim tropes for decades. Due to the mainstream publishers and media controlling what we read and see, we need to create our own books that stand against this and represent a truer Islam and a true Palestine.”

She said that books can be read for years to come; thus, the idea is that the more we have that represent the truth, the more options society has to read different, more authentic viewpoints.

The author mentioned that the world needs more narratives that do not succumb to the negative tropes of the Western world. “We live in a world dominated by media that controls how others think. This dehumanization leads to genocide, which we are witnessing in Muslim countries around the world and also in Palestine. I believe that if we can educate our children to celebrate differences instead of fearing them, we can contribute to making the world a safer place for all.”

Malherbe considered her books to be not only for Palestinian children but also for all children. “My children's books are for everyone. I wrote my children's series to teach kids about Palestine.” 

“I also wrote it so that Palestinian, or any other refugee children, can draw strength from their faith and hold on to it," she said. The author added that we are witnessing an unprecedented number of children being forcibly displaced, especially from the East to the West. In her work, she has observed that these children often feel shy about expressing their heritage, identity, and faith, and she aims to change that.

Malherbe stated that the audience's feedback on the book is the most important thing, and she mentioned one particular instance: “One girl who was shy about expressing her faith dressed up as my character, ‘Noor’, for World Book Day, and the story gave her the confidence to be herself.”

“‘The Girl Who Lives Between Two Worlds’, the third book in my children's book series, was voted Best Children's Book by The Reader's Choice Awards. Knowing that others are connecting with Palestine in this way is special,” added the Palestinian author. 

“Yassini Girls” is the latest novel by Shereen Malherbe, published in 2024. The book is a multi-generational narrative that explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the preservation of tradition against all odds to secure our present.

The description of the story reads: “In an ancient house behind stone walls in the Old City of Jerusalem, an unexpected phone call reignites a past that Fatima has long buried. Thousands of miles away, in the British countryside, a family heirloom buried beneath an attic floor forces Layla to journey into the darkest parts of Palestinian history. Separated by distance and time, the lives of these two women are stitched together in a way neither could have imagined.”

Malherbe explained that “Yassini Girls” is based on her life and on her appearance in the BBC documentary film, “The Holy Land and Us.” “The ‘phone call’ mentioned in the description of the story refers to the one we received from the BBC Film Director. Aside from changing the character names, the history and events are based on true events in my family's and other Palestinians' lives, from before the Nakba to the present.”

She said working on her novel started the journey of finding out what happened to her family in the 1948 massacre in the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin. “My Tata survived, but 22 members of my family were murdered that day. My novel, ‘Yassini Girls’, is an exploration of that.”

The Palestinian British author believed that it is important for us to contribute to the historical truths of Palestine and Islam. In order for that to happen, we need to make conscious choices about the books we read and the ones we introduce to our children.

AH/SAB