Baba, What Does My Name Mean?: A Journey to Palestine

Summary of Book

When Saamidah, a young Palestinian refugee, is asked by her friends what her name means, she isn't quite sure what to say. She turns to her baba for some answers - but what she gets is an adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Join Saamidah on a lyrical journey, with dazzling illustrations, that brings to life her beloved homeland and celebrates the richness of her cultural heritage and the determination to return.

Author Biography

Rifk Ebeid is the debut author of the must-have children's book Baba, What Does My Name Mean? She was born and raised in the United States, but is originally Palestinian, hailing from the beautiful cities of al-Khalil (Hebron) and al-Quds (Jerusalem). Rifk has been a lifelong lover of all things Palestine, and first began her advocacy work with an impassioned letter to the editor in the seventh grade. Her happiest memories were the summers she spent in al-Quds with her very big Palestinian family, exploring the land and soaking in every bit of its rich history and resilient people. She lives in Florida, with her husband, family, and three children, who were all named after beloved cities in Palestine. Rifk has a JD from George Mason University, an MA in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University, and an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Northern Colorado. She has worked extensively in the field of human rights and media advocacy with various human rights organizations in the US, Jerusalem, and the UAE.

Illustrator Biography

Lamaa Jawhari is a 2D animator/illustrator. Originally Palestinian, but born and raised in Jordan, she studied animation and worked there for more than 10 years. She now lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and baby. Lamaa works as a freelance artist doing animation and children's books. She did a small animated part with "Just Like You Films," and has worked with some of the leading companies in the MENA region such as "Little Thinking Minds" and "Kharabeesh."