April is National Arab American Heritage Month. According to the American Arab Foundation, the 2026 theme for the month is “Many voices, one community,” which “reflects the breadth of Arab American identities while affirming the shared values that unite the community.”
Arab American Heritage Month was initiated in 2017.
“The story of Arab Americans,” writes the Arab American Institute, “is the story of America.”
“Arab Americans, are a diverse community of immigrants and the descendants of immigrants, 3.7 million strong, who have come from throughout the Arab world. We are Syrians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Palestinians, Iraqis, Jordanians, and Yemenis—from North Africa to Southwest Asia. Our ethnic community is diverse in faith, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability.”
To help us celebrate the month, here is a booklist of recently published books penned by Arab and Arab American writers and/or illustrators, all available at Spokane Public Library.
Books for Adults
Seaons of Glass & Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar
An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib
Every Exit Brings You Home by Naeem Murr
Fire in Every Direction by Tareq Baconi
I Sleep in My Kitchen by Mariam Daud
My Friends by Hisham Matar
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
Terror Counter by Fargo Nissim Tbakhi
The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine
Too Soon by Betty Shamieh
Books for Kids
Sakina and the Uninvited Guests by Zahra Marwan
Zamzam for Everyone written by Razeena Omar Gutta, Art by Bassent Dawoud
