Author Reem Faruqi said her newest release, a children’s book titled “Lailah’s Lunchbox,” is about a young Muslim child named Lailah who moves from the Middle East all the way to Peachtree City.
Going to a new school in a new country thousands of miles from her home, Lailah misses her old friends. When Ramadan begins, she is excited that she is finally old enough to participate in the fasting but worried that her classmates won’t understand why she doesn’t join them in the lunchroom. Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs.
In addition to choosing Peachtree City as the book’s setting, Faruqi said she named the librarian in the story Mrs. Carman, his former English teacher who inspired her as a student and still works at McIntosh High School.
“I don’t know any other children’s books that are set in Peachtree City, Georgia,” said Faruqi.
Lea Lyon was the illustrator for “Lailah’s Lunchbox,” which was published by Tilbury House. For more information, visit www.ReemFaruqi.com.
