A Visit From Hannah Moushabeck

Last week, we had the extraordinary privilege of welcoming local author and publisher Hannah Moushabeck to campus. Over the course of the day, Hannah gave three separate presentations—each thoughtfully tailored to the different age groups at our school, from our youngest toddlers through to our middle schoolers. Through her book Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine, she invited our students into her family’s story, into the beauty and resilience of Palestinian culture, and into the world of bookmaking itself.

Hannah began her visit with our youngest students by reading Homeland, a lyrical and tender story rooted in memory, love, and family. Students were captivated by the illustrations and immersed in the tastes, textures, and traditions of a faraway homeland—learning about ancient olive trees, hand-stitched tatreez embroidery, and what makes Palestinian hummus “the best in the world.” As one teacher shared, “We were wrapped in a cloth woven by a master narrator.”

In the Woods Primes (K/1), Hannah’s visit was marked through the children’s ongoing practice of portraiture—a process that invites students to “see and honor themselves and others.” Inspired by her story, the children created portraits of Hannah as a gesture of welcome, appreciation, and connection. They reflected deeply on the keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian shawl featured in Homeland, and used art to explore identity, symbolism, and cultural beauty. They asked questions, shared ideas, and expressed their understanding through portraiture -- adding yet another layer of meaning to their practice.

With our second through fifth graders, Hannah spoke more deeply about her personal story and her journey into publishing. She shared how, growing up, there was only one book—Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye—that reflected her experience as a Palestinian American girl. She knew she wanted to change that for her nieces and nephews, and so she wrote Homeland. That drive to create mirrors the work of her family: when her parents arrived in the U.S. from Jordan in the 1970s, they were dismayed by the narrow and harmful portrayals of Arab people in the media. In response, they founded Interlink Publishing—a family-run, independent publishing house right here in the Pioneer Valley, which has been championing diverse voices since 1987.

Our middle school students had the chance to learn more deeply about Hannah’s family’s history and the broader cultural and political context behind her book. They also learned about the long journey a book takes from idea to bookshelf—how Homeland, though written in just a few hours, took five years to revise and publish. Hannah shared her experience working on other well-known titles like Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, Ivy & Bean, This Book is Anti-Racist, and Stuntboy.

In both older groups, Hannah spoke about how schools in Gaza haven’t been open for nearly two years, leaving children without this critical right. She told us about the Sumud School in Gaza, opened by some friends of hers, which is working to ensure that Palestinian children continue to have access to education despite unimaginable obstacles. This sparked heartfelt conversation and deep questioning from our students, who are learning what it means to listen carefully and to act with empathy.

Here's some more information about the Sumud School, directly from Hannah, who is doing everything in her power to support this urgent community need:

The Sumud School was founded by Enaam Sakallah, an English teacher who was displaced from Gaza City on October 11, 2023. After enduring more than a year of unimaginable hardship—including multiple displacements, the loss of loved ones, no access to education or healthcare, and daily struggles to find food, water, and safety—Enaam refused to give up. While living in a tent community in Deir el-Balah, she began teaching children who had no access to school. Now, back in the rubble of Gaza City, Enaam and her team have found an intact building, cleaned and repaired it, and turned it into a beacon of hope. Today, The Sumud School serves over 300 children, ages 3 to 17. "Sumud" means steadfastness in Arabic—a fitting name that reflects the unshakable determination of these educators and students to reclaim their right to learn, to grow, and to dream. If you would like to support Enaam and The Sumud School, please consider donating to their fundraiser here: https://gofund.me/00d5ff93. Follow Friends of The Sumud School on Facebook or Instagram.

We are so grateful to Hannah for spending the day with us—for her honesty, warmth, and generosity, and for the way she modeled the power of storytelling to build bridges and deepen understanding. Her visit reminded us how vital representation is in children’s literature, and how books can affirm who we are while also expanding our vision of what is possible. I think this thank you note from one of our second graders sums it up quite well:

As a school community committed to empathy, justice, and joyful learning, Hannah’s presence was a powerful affirmation of our values. We look forward to reading more of her work—and to continuing the conversation she helped spark.

In partnership,

Lauren Obregón

Interim Co-Head of School