In honor of National Reading Month, we have some great recommendations of books written by Arab American Women authors that we will bring to you.

This week we recommend author Reda A. Taleb. Reda published a children’s book, “Noura’s Extraordinary Superpower.” This book follows the story of a young Muslim girl named Noura, who discovers her extraordinary superpower of empathy after learning of her Baba’s incarceration.

As Noura learns to navigate her newfound ability, she discovers that not everyone in her community is treated equally. She witnesses discrimination and prejudice towards those who are different and decides to use her superpower to stand up for what is right and to help others feel heard and valued. This book is for children in grades K – 5th (5 yrs old – 11 yrs old); however, older youth may also benefit from the book’s topic and content.

Reda is a decarceration advocate, certified trauma-informed healing justice facilitator, children’s book author, and spoken word poet. She is a proximate and cross-sector changemaker rooted in grassroots servant advocacy. She reflects on the communities she serves and connects with others across identities and industries. Reda centers equity and builds trust through her commitment towards collective impact to achieve collective liberation in the country we aspire to be. These qualities ground her body of work and the legacy she aspires to create for herself, her family, and her community.

Along with being a poet and an author, Reda hosts a podcast called “Tahrir wa al Hurriyah: Reimagining the Struggle for Collective Liberation.” The podcast delves into the lived experiences of Arab Americans in contemporary society and covers various topics, such as Islamophobia, mass incarceration, and extremist policies that have negatively impacted the community. You can access the podcast on popular platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.