Kid’s Story Hour: Shifa Saltagi Safadi (2024 National Book Award Winner) at Tomorrow Bookstore – Indianapolis, IN

Join Tomorrow Bookstore for a children’s story hour with children’s author Shifa Saltagi Safadi. She will be introducing and reading from her Amina Banana chapter book series! This series is aimed at children from ages 6-9, but any kids are welcome.

After the reading, you will have a chance to meet the author and get your books signed by Shifa, who won a National Book Award in 2024.

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

AMINA BANANA AND THE FORMULA FOR FRIENDSHIP

Meet Amina Banana! She’s a determined and clever third grader, and star of a new chapter book series with a STEM twist. Perfect for readers of The Questioneers and Junie B. Jones!

Amina loves bananas, science, and all things yellow! Her family recently arrived from Syria to Indiana, and she’s starting at a brand-new school in a brand-new country. She’s excited but also nervous, especially about making friends! But she develops the perfect formula to get everything just right:Speak English + wear a perfect outfit + be a good student + eat American food = Make American Friends!

When the first few days are harder than Amina imagined, she’s left worrying: why doesn’t her formula add up?

AMINA BANANA AND THE FORMULA FOR WINNING

Meet Amina Banana! This clever third grader is back in book two of this new chapter book series, determined to win her school’s spelling bee. Perfect for readers of The Questioneers and Junie B. Jones!

Amina Banana’s third grade class is abuzz with excitement for the upcoming spelling bee. But spelling in English is tough for Amina. Still, she’s going to prove to her classmates that even if English is an additional language for her, she can take home the gold medal.If only the formula for winning wasn’t so complicated!Make more duaa + study spelling words every day until the spelling bee + write down each word ten times so my hand memorizes it + spell each word out loud ten times + don’t get distracted by anything else! + don’t share your secrets with anyone = WINNER!

Amina is determined to win, but with a formula that long, how will Amina be able to study, keep up with tasks at home and stay true to her friends – who are also her biggest competition at the bee?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shifa Saltagi Safadi is the author of Kareem Between and several picture books, including The Gift of Eid. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, teaches ELA at a local middle school, and reviews Muslim books on her blog, Muslim Mommy Blog. Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents as a young girl. She lives near Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit Shifa online at shifasafadi.com.