Morning Now Dawned: A Middle Eastern Kidlit Podcast

George Jreije, Author of Bashir Boutros and Shad Hadid books

Bio: George Jreije is the Lebanese-American author of the acclaimed Shad Hadid and Bashir Boutros series, among other things. He has also written short stories in collaboration with Scholastic, UNICEF, and more. He served as the inaugural author-in-residence for the Concord Library in 2023 and has been a guest of honor and instructor at the Gotham Writers Workshop, the Highlights Foundation, and other writing workshops. Learn More: Here is George Jreije's Website [https://www.georgejreije.com/] and you can follow him on Instagram as @bygeorgejreije. His books are: Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria [https://bookshop.org/p/books/shad-hadid-and-the-alchemists-of-alexandria-george-jreije/efff578cfba60562?ean=9780063094826&next=t] Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies [https://bookshop.org/p/books/shad-hadid-and-the-forbidden-alchemies-george-jreije/e697f588f2591d6c?ean=9780063094864&next=t] Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile [https://bookshop.org/p/books/bashir-boutros-and-the-jewel-of-the-nile-george-jreije/708b01118ba73600?ean=9780063382244&next=t] And you can now pre-order Bashir Boutros and the Forgotten Realm [https://bookshop.org/p/books/bashir-boutros-and-the-forgotten-realm-george-jreije/eb5ea9e318ca639d?ean=9780063382299&next=t]! Available on May 19, 2026. Other authors mentioned include: Nadia Shammas and Sarah Alfagee, authors of a Young Adult book, Squire: A Graphic Novel [https://bookshop.org/p/books/squire-a-graphic-novel-nadia-shammas/7ea3092d3768e7c7?ean=9780062945846&next=t] Rhonda Roumani, author of Middle Grade novel Tagging Freedom [https://bookshop.org/p/books/tagging-freedom-rhonda-roumani/31b51c8b2deab38c?ean=9781454950721&next=t] and a picture book, Umm Kulthum: The Star of the East [https://bookshop.org/p/books/umm-kulthum-the-star-of-the-east-rhonda-roumani/9518210c770dad00?ean=9781623716608&next=t], which won the Middle East Nonfiction Book Award from the Middle East Outreach Council in 2025. Credits: Theme Music: Paul Amiel Technical Assistance: Dr. Eric Taylor, Ali Hattab General encouragement and assistance: Professor Mahmoud Azaz, Professor Emerita Anne Betteridge, Dr. Julie Ellison, Thomas Kenney, Jenessa Ricklefs. Logo/ Thumbnail: University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Marketing and Communications Team Facebook Page: facebook.com/groups/cmesuarizona/ [http://facebook.com/groups/cmesuarizona/] Instagram: @ [https://www.instagram.com/bookoflifepodcast/]cmes_ua [https://www.instagram.com/cmes_ua]

A Girl Named Mithra with Moujan Adl

This is an interview with Moujan Adl, author of A Girl Named Mithra, a picture book about the Iranian winter solstice holiday of Yalda. Links: Moujan Adl, author: https://www.pompub.com/aboutus [https://www.pompub.com/aboutus] Mona Danesh, illustrator: https://mdanesh.myportfolio.com/ [https://mdanesh.myportfolio.com/], @nazarjoon Farzad Hemati, translator to Persian: https://www.pompub.com/translator [https://www.pompub.com/translator] Yalda is traditionally celebrated with readings from the poet Hafez. For more information: https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hafez/ [https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hafez/] https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170109-the-mystical-poet-who-can-help-you-lead-a-better-life [https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170109-the-mystical-poet-who-can-help-you-lead-a-better-life] For information on the University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies, go to: https://cmes.arizona.edu/ [https://cmes.arizona.edu/]. For information on the Middle East Outreach Council, go to: http://www.meoc.us/ [http://www.meoc.us/] MEOC Book Award information, including a list of all winners is at: http://www.meoc.us/book-awards.html [http://www.meoc.us/book-awards.html] Abby Limmer can be reached at alimmer@arizona.edu [alimmer@arizona.edu] .