The Middle East Outreach Council established the Middle East Book Award in 1999 to recognize books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle East. For purposes of this award, the Middle East is defined as: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Books that are nominated for awards are judged on the authenticity of their portrayal of a Middle Eastern subject, as well as on their characterization, plot, and appeal for the intended audience. A committee of MEOC members, including teachers, librarians, outreach coordinators, and other educators select award winners (and, if deemed appropriate, honorable mention titles) in three categories.
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• Picture Book
• Youth Literature
• Youth Non-Fiction, given in honor of Lisa Adeli

The Middle East Book Award, along with our sister programs (the Américas Award, the Children’s Africana Book Award, the Freeman Book Awards (East/Southeast Asia), and the South Asia Book Award), is pleased to recognize exemplary titles in globally focused literature for younger readers.

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List of all Middle East Book Award winners (2000-2022)
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2022_middle_east_book_award_press_release.pdf
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Lists of recognized titles by category

Picture book

Simply worded plot- or subject-driven text, accompanied by large images on most pages, intended for very young readers.

youth non-fiction
​Given in honor of Lisa ADELI

Reference or other non-fiction —e.g., biography—intended for ​K-12 audiences or their teachers

YOUTH LITERATURE

Plot-driven books (with or without illustrations); collections of poetry; and/or memoirs appropriate for young adult readers in middle and high school.

submission guidelines

Are you a publisher or author hoping to submit your book for consideration? Click here for submission guidelines.

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THE 2023 MIDDLE EAST BOOK AWARD TEAM

E-Mail us!

KATIE ASLAN

Middle East Book Awards Co-Chair

RIMA
HASSOUNEH

Middle East Book Awards Co-Chair

CORINNE HUGHES

Nominations
Co-Coordinator

CHRISTOPHER ROSE

Nominations
​Co-Coordinator

2022 Winners 

PICTURE BOOK

Winner
Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers,
by Lina AlHathloul & Uma Mishra-Newberry

Honorable Mentions
A Sky-Blue Bench, by Bahram Rahman; illustrated by Peggy Collins (Pajama Press, 2021)
Nour's Secret Library, by Wafa' Tarnowska; Illustrated by Vali Mintzi (Barefoot Books, 2022)

YOUTH NON FICTION
given in honor of Lisa Adeli

Winner
A Land With a People: Palestinians and Jews Confront Zionism, edited by Esther Farmer, Rosalind Pollack Petchesky, Sarah Sills (Monthly Review Press, 2021)

YOUTH LITERATURE

Winners

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix, by Aminah Mae Safi (Feiwel & Friends, 2022)

Honorable Mention
Tunnels, by Rutu Modan, Translated by Ishai Mishory (Drawn and Quarterly, 2021)