By STEPHA POULIN
BG Independent News Correspondent
Illustrated with bouncing brown curls and denim overalls, Kanzi introduces herself on the first day of third-grade, bracing her hands against the desk and saying, “I am Egyptian-American.”
Kanzi knows this makes her stand out.
While fictionalized, the scenario is based on the childhood of freelance journalist Aya Khalil, an Ottawa Hills resident. As a baby, Khalil and her family emigrated from Egypt to the United States. They moved around often but stayed in Minot, North Dakota, for three years.
Khalil credits a teacher at her Minot elementary school for creating the lesson plan that inspired her childrens’ book, “The Arabic Quilt,” illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyanon.
“My teacher created that lesson over 20 years ago, and I still remember it,” Khalil said in a recent telephone interview. “It had such a big impact.”
Like Kanzi, young Khalil was a new student coping with what set her apart from others.
“Growing up, people would tell my mom, ‘I can’t understand you,’” Khalil said.
The Minot teacher created a lesson plan to introduce students to Arabic. Khalil’s mother sounded-out each students’ name, then the teacher wrote them down for reference. The next day, students drew their Arabic names on colorful pieces of construction paper, sticking them together to craft a quilt.
“I just had this idea, this memory, of my teacher creating this project in the back of my head,” Khalil said. “I started writing the book about three years ago.”
The main character, Kanzi, has the support of a fictional teacher, Mrs. Haugen. Mrs. Haugen invites Kanzi’s mother into class so they can craft a quilt, stitching together students’ names much like Khalil had done.
Khalil believes children need role models who foster understanding and explain what makes us different in a positive, educational way.
“It absolutely starts when the kids are super young,” Khalil said. “It’s okay to point out differences within each other, point out different types of people. Try to avoid that ‘color blind’ attitude.”
Khalil loved to read and write as a child, spending most of her time reading and journaling. She hopes “The Arabic Quilt” impacts children like her, who might not feel comfortable being different. “I hope it gets kids excited to see themselves,” she said.
To Khalil’s surprise and delight, her 7-year-old daughter loves Kofta sandwiches, a type of meatball mixed with spices or onions often made in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the main character of the book, and a younger Khalil, feared being teased for it.
“My daughter asks me to pack her different lunches. She’s definitely not the main character of my story — she asks for hummus and Kofta,” Khalil said. “It’s so interesting to see how different I was growing up compared to her.”
Signings and Book Readings:
- Storytime and Signing, 11 a.m. March 14, Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor
- Authors Showcase, 1 p.m. April 26, Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance
- Family Storytime and Crafts, 2 p.m. May 30, Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania
- Family Storytime and Writing Workshops, 1:30 p.m. June 10, Tiffin-Seneca Public Library, 77 Jefferson St., Tiffin
- Storytime and Craft, 1:30 p.m. July 8, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., Toledo
