In this episode, we speak to Sana Rafi, a Pakistani American author who began her writing journey at the age of ten, but didn’t find her own voice as an author until she became a mother. It was then that she started writing picture books that reflected her experiences growing up as a immigrant who is Muslim and Pakistani. Her new picture book, A Mermaid Girl, draws on these inspirations as it depicts the first time a young girl wears a burkini. In our conversation, we talk about about how Sana discovered her voice writing children’s books; how her identity as a practicing Muslim shapes her body of work; what kind of impact she wants to have on future generations of young readers; and so much more.

Show notes:

• Salaam Reads: https://salaamreads.com/
• A Mermaid Girl: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667818/a-mermaid-girl-by-sana-rafi-illustrated-by-olivia-aserr/
• Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/bio/
• Muslim Storytellers Fellowship from the Highlights Foundation: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/programs/3003/muslim-storytellers-fellowship/
• LUMS: https://www.lums.edu.pk/

• Highlights Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/highlightsfound/?hl=en
• GoRead.pk: https://www.instagram.com/goread.pk/?hl=en
• Joanna Ho: https://www.instagram.com/joannahowrites/
• Sabaa Tahir (All My Rage author): https://www.instagram.com/sabaatahir/?hl=en
• We Need Diverse Books: https://www.instagram.com/weneeddiversebooks/?hl=en

Follow Sana:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srafibooks/?hl=en