Read with permission from the amazing author, Rishma, we were taken on a trip around the world with the main characters of the book "Sushi and Samosas: A Trip of Tasty Transformations."

For questions on how to get your story featured on Salaam Storytime, please contact salaamstorytime(at)gmail.com and don't forget to enter our recipe contest, which closes 12/31/2021! Please visit the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/salaambananas

Qualifying recipe developers will be eligible to enter a chance to win a $100 gift card, recipes accepted worldwide! 

Thank you for listening and until next time!

From an Intro to "A Kids Book About Racism," Jelani Memory asks readers to think about all the things grownups are responsible for teaching kids - from things like ABCs, riding a bike, and when to say "please" and "thank you."  But what about important topics like racism?  What age is too early for kids to learn about racisk? When is it "too soon" to learn how to treat those who look different from us? And who is supposed to help kids learn about racism?

In this story, aimed at age 6 and up, Leena learns how to define racism and I am glad we had the conversation about friendships and hate and what it means to stop someone when you see or hear something racist. Many thanks to Publisher and Author Jelani Memory who was so kind, responsive, and open to us sharing this with our listeners.

Read with permission from Capstone Press, "Bilal Cooks Daal" is a fun story about a young boy who shares a special meal with his friends (the story also includes a tasty recipe - check it out at your local library or buy a copy!). Leena reads the voice of Bilal and we invite you to listen in with us! Guest readers on this episode include Andrea Hall and Linus Abrons, plus cameos by Nadeen and Ameena, Leena's very own sisters.  

Intro and exit music from SlipStream "Farmer's Market" by Ellie. To participate in future readings, suggest titles to read, or connect with us in any way, please contact us at salaamstorytime[at]gmail[dot]com.  Also check out our last episode "Going Bananas!" to participate in our very first contest!  Winners can be from anywhere around the world and will be featured in a special project we are working on with our dear friend, author Evelyn Sue Wong!

Leena and Janan 

Salaam Storytime is back and we wanted to know: what's your favorite fruit? Chances are, you have encountered a banana in your life. (Hint: We kind of hope you love bananas!)

In this delightful short story, you will learn a little bit about a lot of different things this versatile fruit can do.  Read with permission and written by Evelyn Sue Wong, "Going Bananas" is one of the short stories in the collection of stories that created A Book of Hugs: Stories to Keep You Company.  Closetful of Books published this book to support and empower children during the height of the pandemic.  A year later, we are still grateful for the warmth and connection stories like this can bring to the world.

In honor of this global love, Evelyn's two granddaughters, Edith and Elly have decided to collaborate with Leena and her sisters, Nadeen and Ameena to bring together the best banana recipes of the world!  We would like to invite you to participate in this challenge as well.

What is your favorite banana recipe - a smoothie, a snack, a dessert, or an entree? Please visit the link below to see how to share as we will be collaborating with Global Tiffins and Global Bookshelves International LLC to share whatever we come up with: 

https://tinyurl.com/salaambananas

Qualifying recipe developers will be eligible to enter a chance to win a gift card!

This episode features a 2020 quarantine project by fellow UNC Alumni, Aisha Saad. She created and illustrated a story about Ramadan in quarantine in 2020 for her family, dedicated to people around the world having to celebrate a holiday during isolation. "Halima's First Ramadan [in Quarantine] is from Halima, Aisha, and Ahmed and written in Ramadan 2020.  Thank you, Aisha, for sharing your beautiful story with the world! If you would like to see the lovely illustrations, send me a message and I will get you a copy of the eBook, with Aisha's permission.

“Salaam” means “peace”! Do you know what your name means? Today’s story is called “Always Anjali” written by author, activist, and author Sheetal Sheth, illustrated by Jessica Blank, and published by Mango and Marigold Press. It’s a story about a young girl who struggles with the name her parents gave her.

"House by Woods and Other Rhymes" is a charming rhyme story written for Singaporean children in the 1990s as a response to the the limited number of local children's books available there. Most books in the 1980s and 90s were imported from the US, UK, and Australia, so educator Dr. Khoo Kim Choo took on the responsibility of writing her own stories! This title in particular was written to help local children connect with nature. The image on the cover of the book is inspired by her own home. We send many thanks to Dr. Khoo Kim Choo for meeting our family, reading her lovely children's stories to us, and connecting us to the publishers in Singapore for permission to read this story!

Intro and exit music from SlipStream "Farmer's Market" by Ellie. Sound effects for this episode come from from freesound.org under the Creative Commons license: "Snake hissing.mp3" by schreibsel; "Cricket sound" by bolkmar; "Clown Horn 1_1" by Joao_Janz; "Fanfare.wav" by ricniclas; "taratata.wav" by milton.; "Rock Skip" by bevibeldesign; "drum_rythm1.mp3" by Taira Komori. Thank you for listening.

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Welcome to the first episode of Salaam Storytime, where Leena invites you to listen to a story from around the world. Leena, Janan, and Hanable first read "Bismillah Soup" a Somali twist on the classic "Stone Soup" tale.  A young boy named Hasan must find a way to organize a special dinner for his mother. The neighborhood comes together in this story of generosity and community. Permission to read this story was granted by Ruqaya's Bookshelf. Sound effects from freesound.org, under the Creative Commons license.