Dispelling common stereotypes—such as the belief that all Arabs share the same culture, religion, and language, and have only recently begun immigrating to the United States—this exploration provides a contemporary as well as historical look at the people and experiences that have shaped Arab American culture. Each chapter focuses on a different group of Arab Americans, including those of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Iraqi, and Yemeni descent, and features activities that highlight their distinct arts, games, clothing, and food. Kids will love dancing the dabke, constructing a derbekke drum, playing a game of senet, making hummus, creating an arabesque design, and crafting an Egyptian-style cuff bracelet. Along the way they will learn to count in Kurdish, pick up a few Syrian words for family members, learn a Yemeni saying, and learn to speak some Iraqi. Short biographies of notable Arab Americans demonstrate a wide variety of careers and contributions, including actor and philanthropist Danny Thomas, singer Paula Abdul, quarterback Doug Flutie, and activist Ralph Nader. Kids will come away with a better understanding of how Arab Americans have helped build and protect this country and have been part of our fabric as a nation for well over 100 years.
