Evaluating Muslim Representation in Children’s Literature: Insights from the Hijabi Librarians Toolkit

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(This webinar and recording is only available to library staff in California. The recording will be available under the CALL Academy People Connect Institute category one week after delivery.)

In this workshop, librarians Mahasin Aleem and Ariana Hussain will evaluate Muslim representation in youth literature through a critical lens, utilizing their Hijabi Librarians Toolkit for Evaluating Muslims in KidLit alongside Ed Trust's Tool for Representational Balance in Books.

Participants will explore key themes, challenges, and best practices in assessing how Muslim characters and narratives are portrayed in literature for young readers.

As a result of this program, attendees will gain:

• An understanding of the significance of authentic Muslim representation
• Critical Evaluation Skills
• Actionable Strategies for Collection Development

Presenters: Mahasin Abuwi Aleem  & Ariana Sani Hussain

Biographies:

Mahasin Abuwi Aleem is a library services manager for Contra Costa County Library. Before working for Contra Costa County Library, she was employed by Oakland Public Library (OPL) and served as OPL's Collection Management Librarian for Children's Services. She is co-founder of Hijabilibrarians.com, a collective of Muslim librarians who evaluate books that feature Muslim protagonists and Islamic-themed content.

Ariana Sani Hussain is a teacher librarian at the Blake School in Hopkins, Minnesota. Ariana reviews for Kirkus, Horn Book, and School Library Journal, has served on multiple book evaluation committees, and is currently chairing the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Literature Awards: Young Adult Book Committee, contributing to the 2024 We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading List, and is a co-founder of Hijabi Librarians.

CALL Training Partner for this Event: PCI