Children's book illustrator, immigrant grateful Bathurst library welcomed his family
Hatem Aly, who's illustratrated 60 children's books, says it's fulfilling to share stories with young readers
Artist Hatem Aly moved from the Middle East to northern New Brunswick and says the local library has been a huge support in his new home.
Aly illustrated the children's book The Proudest Blue, which was read by a book club at the Grand Manan Public Library as part of CBC New Brunswick's Books and Backroads partnership with public libraries.
Readers in six small communities in rural areas of the province took part in book clubs, discovering books from an array of genres, all with a connection to New Brunswick.
Young readers and their parents read the story about two sisters, Asiyah and Faizah. The story is told through the eyes of Faizah, who is proud of her older sister when she wears her hijab for the first time at school.
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Aly is a New York Times bestselling illustrator of more than 60 books, including a series that includes The Proudest Blue, The Kindest Red and The Boldest White, all written by Ibtihaj Muhammad & S.K. Ali.
He moved from Egypt to New Brunswick in 2007 and now lives in Bathurst with his wife and son.
He credits the Bathurst Public Library and especially librarian Diane Gauthier as providing the biggest support for him and his famiy in their new home.
"Diane has been with us since my son was a baby," he said. "We used to go to storytime and once in a while she had to read one of the books that I illustrated to other kids."
The library is also the best place "to see the kids' reactions firsthand," he said.
In The Proudest Blue, Asiyah's hijab is blue, and her sister Faizah sees it as beautiful and powerful, like ocean waves, Aly said.
Her enthusiasm, however, isn't shared by other students in the story, who make hurtful comments and bully Asiyah for being different.
For Aly, the book is about resilience and family and "finding a ground to stand on and being together as a family."
Grand Manan book club member Rory Kinghorne said he loved the story.
"If you're dealing with a bully, I think it's not a reflection of you, it's a reflection of them."
Conversation flowed over every aspect of the book, including the strength of the main characters, and there was a general consensus that people don't need to change to fit in with norms.
"It's not right to bully someone for being themself," Sadie Kinghorne said.
Aly said Books and Backroads is a great way to "spotlight the places that have small populations," and he was "really excited about" The Proudest Blue being selected this year.
"It was like a little gift, a nice little gift to find some interest," he said.
He aso apprecitaed the validation that his work "reached other people."
Often, he said, "you feel in isolation" because after a work is published, there usually isn't direct interaction with readers or libraries or other places the book is having an impact.
Rachel Woodworth, the Grand Manan library manager, said the first word that came to mind when she found out the library was included in this year's Books and Backroads was "thrilled."
She said the program means a lot to her because even before working at the library, she was a fan of the series and saw "the partnership between CBC and New Brunswick public libraries is special."
"To see the place that you live and the community you're in featured in the media feels really special, and we're excited to be a part of it."
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