The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale

Name: The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale
Brand: Dreamscape Media
Availability: InStock
Author: Aya Khalil
ISBN: 9781666649970

Author: Aya Khalil

Narrator: Dalia Ramahi

Unabridged: 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Published: 11/28/2023

Categories: Children's Fiction, Children's Social Themes

Synopsis

Upon learning that the books with kids who look like her have been banned by her school district, Kanzi descends into fear and helplessness. But her classmates support her, and together—with their teacher’s help—they hatch a plan to hold a bake sale and use the proceeds to buy diverse books to donate to libraries. The event is a big success: the entire school participates, and the local TV station covers it in the evening news. Prodded by her classmates to read the poem she has written, Kanzi starts softly but finds her voice. “You have banned important books, but you can’t ban my words,” she reads. “Books are for everyone.” The crowd chants “No banned books! No banned books!,” and the next week, the ban is reversed. Aya Khalil appends a note about how The Arabic Quilt was briefly banned from the York, Pennsylvania school system, and the backmatter also includes a recipe for baklawa, the Egyptian pastry that Kanzi prepares for the bake sale.

About Aya Khalil

Aya Khalil is a freelance journalist and educator who has taught at all levels from preschool to college. Her debut picture book, The Arabic Quilt, is based on events from her childhood when she immigrated at the age of one to the U.S. from Egypt with her parents and siblings. She currently resides with her husband and their three children in Toledo, Ohio.

About Anait Semirdzhyan

Anait Semirdzhyan is an experienced illustrator who has lived in diverse cultures throughout the world. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington.

About Dalia Ramahi

Dalia Ramahi is a bilingual voiceover actress that speaks both English and Arabic fluently. In addition to acting, she mentors young women who are striving to find their voices. A huge advocate of learning, personal development, and growth, her vision is to live joyfully every day and inspire others to find their everyday joy too.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rod on May 19, 2024

Having her first book, The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story, briefly banned by a school district in Pennsylvania -- doubtlessly for including the words "Arabic" and "Immigrant" in the title -- inspired the author to write this sequel. Kanzi, an Egyptian-American, third-grade girl, is stunned and sadd......more

Goodreads review by Shifa on August 16, 2023

An important book on book bans and how they make kids feel! Genre: Adv picturebook Ages: 6-9 Author: Aya Khalil Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan Publisher: Tilbury Publishing Kanzi is back in another book. Kanzi is heading into her library when she sees all the diverse books gone from a shelf, including the......more

Goodreads review by Brianna on April 17, 2023

The storyline is important in our ever changing society, I just wasn’t a huge fan of the imagery.......more

Goodreads review by Bunny on March 15, 2024

Ohhh, this is so sweet. This is a sequel to a book I'd never heard of, The Arabic Quilt, which also sounds sweet and important. This book is a direct response to the banning of that book around the country. Our stupid, stupid, backwards thinking country. The children in this wonderful story are abso......more