FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
On Sale May 15, 2022
You Are The Color
Written by Rifk Ebeid
Illustrated by Noor Alshalabi
Evocative New Children’s Picture Book About The 1948 Palestinian Nakba
After a frightening expulsion from his homeland,
Thaer’s world is suddenly filled with a lot of darkness.
You Are the Color is an evocative story about the Palestinian refugee experience during al-Nakba, or “The Catastrophe,” of 1948. At his new school, Thaer uses black for every art assignment. But one day, a laughter-filled memory of home makes him try a new color. As the memories begin to return, Thaer is inspired to use more colors, until he reaches a memory that is too much to bear. A testament to the visceral connection between indigenous peoples and their homeland, and the power of art to transform grief into hope, You Are the Color is a heartfelt, emotional tale of looking within yourself to color your world and find hope through action.
“Another brilliant book to be read by children of all ages,” says Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, Professor at Bethlehem University. “Those of us who think of ourselves as grown-ups, it reconnects us with our child’s heart and rekindles hope.”
Sahar Mustafah, author of The Beauty of Your Face, a 2020 Notable Book by the New York Times Book Review, says, “In You Are the Color, readers journey with young Thaer through devastating loss before capturing bright hope with the help of a kind teacher. Accompanied by Noor Alshalabi’s gorgeous illustrations, Rifk Ebeid illuminates the effects of the Palestinian Nakba and its displacement on childhood, as well as the powerful resilience of young children.”
“Rifk Ebeid’s latest children book, You Are the Color, is heartbreaking and yet heartwarming. It is the story of innocence, struggle and hope. It is the story of all Palestinian refugees and their descendants in the last 75 years,” says Ramzy Baroud, a Palestinian Author and Journalist. “It is a profound representation of the larger struggle of generations of Palestinians insisting to remember where they come from, and to remain committed to their mission in life, that of freedom and justice. Noor Alshalabi’s drawings are stunning and convey the innocence and purity of the story in a powerful and effective way. You Are the Color is another great addition to the Palestinian children literature genre.”
Rifk Ebeid is a Palestinian writer and human rights advocate. She currently works as a pediatric speech language pathologist. Ebeid 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 began writing children’s books to serve as on ongoing trust that teaches children about Palestinian history and inspires them to be proud of their identity and always fight in the cause of justice. You Are the Color is her second picture book following her successful debut children’s book, Baba, What Does My Name Mean? A Journey To Palestine.
Noor Alshalabi is a Jordan-based illustrator who started drawing ever since she learned how to hold a pencil. After getting her BA in Visual Arts and Design, she pursued her dream of turning her imagination into reality through children’s books. You can always find Noor with a cup of coffee, curled up with a good book, watching movies, playing with her pet bird, spending time with a friend, or going for a hike. Nature is both her source of inspiration and relaxation.
Palestine / History / Ages 4-10
Hardcover, Paperback, & E-Book, 8.5 x 11 inches, 36 pages
ISBNs:
E-Book: 979-8-9859926-2-5
Paperback: 979-8-9859926-1-8
Hardcover: 979-8-9859926-0-1
High resolution images are available upon request; scanning from the book or lifting images from the mechanical file are strictly prohibited. Mandatory credit line: From You Are the Color written by Rifk Ebeid, with illustrations by Noor Alshalabi.
For more information, please contact:
Rifk Ebeid
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