Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 0 (2021) Winner
Hena Khan
ヘナ・カーン
Hena Khan
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- United States of America
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Islam
- Residence History
- Rockville, Maryland, USA
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Children's book author, Picture book author
- Active Years
- 2008-
- Influenced By
- Beverly Cleary, Louisa May Alcott
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | International Affairs | — | MA | — | United States |
George Washington University
International Affairs
Degree:
MA
Country:
United States
Earned a MA in International Affairs
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature | Amina's Song | — | Asian Pacific American Librarians Association | 受賞 |
Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature
2022
Work:
Amina's Song
Organization:
Asian Pacific American Librarians Association
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Amina's Voice
2017 Middle grade fictionA coming-of-age story about Amina, a Pakistani-American girl finding her voice while navigating friendship, culture, and middle school challenges.
IdentityFamilyFriendshipCultural diversity
Amina's Song
2021 Middle grade fictionSequel to Amina's Voice, further exploring friendship, family, and identity as Amina continues to grow.
Coming of ageCultureBelonging
Night of the Moon
2008 Picture bookA lyrical picture book depicting nighttime scenes related to Islamic traditions through words and illustrations.
Religious traditionCultureNature
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors
2012 Picture bookA picture book for young children that introduces elements of Muslim culture through colors.
Cultural educationColorsReligion
It's Ramadan, Curious George
2016 Picture bookA picture book that gently introduces Ramadan's practices and meaning through the popular Curious George character (co-authored).
Religious educationDiversityFriendship
Under My Hijab
2019 Picture bookA picture book portraying the diverse experiences of girls who wear hijab, aiming to dispel misconceptions.
IdentityReligionDiversity
Bibliography
- Night of the Moon (2008)
- Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors (2012)
- It's Ramadan, Curious George (2016)
- Amina's Voice (2017)
- Power Forward (2018)
- On Point (2018)
- Bounce Back (2018)
- Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes (2018)
- Under My Hijab (2019)
- More to the Story (2020)
- Amina's Song (2021)
- Zara’s Rules series (2022-2023)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Accessible narrative voiceRealistic style suited for contemporary middle gradeChild-friendly explanatory yet empathetic descriptions
- Recurring Motifs
- FamilyFaith and cultureCommunityFriendship and self-discovery
Legacy
Recognized for bringing multicultural perspectives to children's literature, especially influential for Muslim children and readers seeking diversity. Amina's Voice was the first title published under the Salaam Reads imprint and her works are often referenced in educational settings.
Trivia
- Amina's Voice was published by Salaam Reads in 2017 and was among the imprint's initial titles.
- Co-authored It's Ramadan, Curious George (2016).
- Won the 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature for Amina's Song.
- Lives in Rockville, Maryland, and is mother of two sons.
- Is Muslim and frequently writes children's books addressing religion and culture.