Helal Musleh is the Palestinian-Canadian author of Zaid and the Gigantic Cloud and Secret Recipe Box. Although she was born and raised in Canada, she says, “My summers were for Palestine.” Growing up, Helal spent every other summer in her grandparents’ home in Attil, a small rural village in Palestine. “There, I learned so much about my identity, values, religion, and roots.”

Now a teacher in Milton, Ontario, and a mother of three, Helal has always dreamed of writing for children. “When I was growing up, I didn’t see myself represented in my school or library bookshelves,” she says. “I don’t remember seeing books with Muslim, let alone Palestinian, voices. I never saw my name in a text. This left me feeling isolated and othered.”

This feeling drove Helal to try her hand at writing stories. “Being a teacher, I know the power of literacy in shaping our thinking. I wanted to make sure that young Muslims saw themselves represented on bookshelves everywhere.”

Her first book, Zaid and the Gigantic Cloud, is about dealing with difficult emotions. When Zaid’s long-awaited camping trip is cancelled, his disappointment becomes a gloomy cloud that follows him around all day! With this story, Helal wanted to show children that “a positive and grateful mindset can help turn situations right side up.”

Her second book, Secret Recipe Box, is about finding community wherever you are. When Maha’s grandmother travels to Canada from Palestine, she brings along a box of secret recipes and special memories. Maha wants to keep them all to herself, but her Teta’s example teaches her the joy in sharing. With this story, Helal wanted to “capture bits of [her] childhood” and “show the beautiful lessons we pass down in Palestinian households.”

Despite the challenges and setbacks, being a voice for her community motivates Helal to keep writing. “I love telling stories that show young audiences growth and perseverance,” she says. “I particularly enjoy writing stories with Muslim characters and themes that any person can pick up and enjoy.”

Check out Helal’s stories, and our growing collection, today!