Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in English

Title: The Unexpected Friend – A Rohingya Children’s Story

Author: Raya Rahman

Illustrator: Inshra Sakhawat Russell

Format: Paperback 

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 40

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-10-5 (English Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-946747-09-9 (English Paperback)

In the midst of a sprawling refugee camp in Bangladesh, Faisal, a young Rohingya boy, finds an injured bird and decides to take care of it with his sisters. Life in the camp is not always easy and the children are thrilled to have a pet to look after. But as the bird's wing slowly heals, they face the dilemma of holding on to or losing something they dearly love.

Thoughtfully illustrated with detailed imagery, The Unexpected Friend is a fictional story based on the real lives of Rohingya children living in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Their individual stories were compiled through the dedicated work of aid agencies Save the Children, Plan International and World Vision and transformed into a storybook in partnership with Guba Publishing, for the purpose of gifting it to the children in the camps.

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority of 1.3 million, formerly living in the Rakhine State within Myanmar. Risking death by sea or on foot, nearly 700,000 have fled the destruction of their homes and persecution in the northern Rakhine province of Myanmar (Burma) for neighboring Bangladesh since August 2017. Bangladesh now houses 1.1 million Rohingya refugees in the world’s largest refugee camp.

Available to schools and school district libraries on Follett Titlewave (USA only).

Did you know there are 196 countries in the world? Discover some of them with these flashcards. A fun and easy way to learn about nature, geography and culture!

26 illustrated flashcards of the English alphabet featuring countries for each letter. Plus an information booklet to explain all the illustrated features presented for each country.

Illustrator: Humairah Shams

Format: 26 Flashcards in a box and an information booklet

For ages: 4+ years

Size: 5" x 7”

ISBN: 978-1-946747-05-1

Children's illustrated story book in Bengali

Author & Illustrator: Inshra Sakhawat Russell

Format: Paperback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-01-3

টাইনি খুবই নিশ্চিত যে তাদের বাড়ির পাশের টলমলে ঝিলটি অনেক রহস্যে ভরপুর। তার ভীষণ ইচ্ছা ঝিলের পানিতে ঝাঁপ দেবার। কিন্তু তা তো আর এত সহজ নয়। এই রহস্য জানতে হলে টাইনিকে শুধু খুব ভালো সাঁতারু হলেই চলবে না, তার সাথে সাথে ওর মনের ভয় কেও জয় করতে হবে। টাইনি কি তবে কিছু আবিষ্কার করবে যদি সে ঝিলের পানিতে একবার ঝাঁপ দেয়? 

নবীন লেখিকা ও চিত্রকার ইনশ্রা সাখাওয়াত রাসেল রঙিন এবং কল্পনাপ্রবণ চরিত্রের মাধ্যমে ফুটিয়ে তুলেছে একটি ছোট মেয়ের বিশাল স্বপ্ন পূরণ হওয়ার গল্প।

Tiny is a dreamer. She’s very curious about the lake next to her house and has been dying to explore it for a while. But there are obstacles she must overcome - practical ones like learning to swim, and psychological ones like the fear of doing something new for the first time. What will Tiny discover once she takes the plunge?

With vibrant hand-drawn illustrations, author-illustrator Inshra Sakhawat Russell takes the reader and listener on an exciting underwater-adventure with Tiny, an empowering female character, that children of all genders can relate to.

Author & Illustrator: Inshra Sakhawat Russell

Format: Paperback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32

Size: 8”x10”

ISBN: 978-1-946747-00-6

Available to schools and school district libraries on http://www.titlewave.com/
Follett Titlewave (USA only)

A search and find picture book for children to learn about 12 seasonal festivals in Bangladesh through finding different members of a forgetful Bangladeshi family. The illustrated spreads show traditional festivals and children learn about the location and elements associated with the local culture.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in Bengali

Author: Inshra Sakhawat Russell

Illustrator: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 40 

Size: 10”x12"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-23-5

About the Author: Inshra Sakhawat Russell is a Bangladeshi-British designer with 15 years of experience in visual communication. She works as a creator of audio-visual content in her hometowns of London and Dhaka.

About the Illustrator: Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy (or Tanmoy) is an editorial cartoonist and comic book artist from Bangladesh. He is the associate editor for "Unmad", the longest running South Asian satire magazine. His Graphic novel Mujib, based on the autobiography of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh, has been published in 10 episodes.

Twin sisters Surya and Chandra live in Shanti, a beautiful village by the Bay of Bengal. The sisters love to sing, but every time they do, something strange happens. Surya's tunes create heat while Chandra's melodies make everything cold! The villagers start to feel afraid, so the girls keep their powers a secret from the world. Until one summer, when disaster strikes! The rain clouds disappear for many days leaving Shanti dry and barren. As the villagers pray for a miracle, Surya and Chandra decide they must help. Can the sisters figure out the true purpose of their powers and save their home? Sophie Cousinié's gorgeous watercolor artwork perfectly complements Shazia Omar's lovely rhythmic storytelling in this sweet story about sibling love, self-discovery, and the power of unleashing your inner strength. 

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in English

Author: Shazia Omar

Illustrator: Sophie Cousinié

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-19-8

About the Author: Shazia Omar is a writer, activist and yogini. She has written two novels (Like a Diamond in the Sky, Penguin 2009 and Dark Diamond, Bloomsbury 2016) and a mind, body, spirit book (Intentional Smile: A Girl's Guide to Positive Living, Bloomsbury 2016). She writes a column for Daily Star (Kundalini Rising). When not working, writing or teaching yoga, Shazia is busy playing with her two beautiful children. www.shaziaomar.com

About the Illustrator: Sophie Cousinié is a French artist and illustrator. She studied theatre, literature and anthropology and has previously worked in various fields, as a teacher, social worker and cultural mediator, before becoming a full time artist. Her unique drawings, hand-made with ink and painted with watercolors, range from animal portraits to representing humans in ordinary life situations. Sophie has done exhibitions and live drawing events in France and England and has also taken part in an international artistic residency in Kolkata, India.

Hafsa, a young Rohingya girl, lives in a Bangladeshi refugee camp with her mother and little brother. Life isn't easy there, but they struggle by, with the help of kind neighbors and their mother's resourcefulness. One day, Hafsa finds her brother, Hafiz, playing with an old razor. The incident stirs up memories of her life in their homeland of Myanmar, where Hafsa used to play with safe, homemade toys. When Hafiz is curious to know about the home they had left behind, Hafsa and her mother share beautiful memories of their village and family life. This story is part of The Asia Foundation's Gom Acho Collection.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in English

Author: Yasmin Ullah

Illustrator: Rafiuzzaman Rhythom

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-24-2

About the Author: Yasmin Ullah is a Rohingya human rights activist. She was born in the Northern Rakhine state of Myanmar. Her family fled to Thailand before resetting in Canada in 2011. Details of her previous works such as Time to Act: Rohingya Voices exhibition with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and the Genocide Learning Tool with the Montréal Holocaust Museum can be found on both Museums' sites. Yasmin published her poetry in the Anthology: I Am A Rohingya in 2019, and later in 2021, she was named on the FemiList100, the Gender Security Project list of 100 women from the Global South, working in foreign policy, peacebuilding, law, activism, and development.

About the Illustrator: Rafiuzzaman Rhythom is a Bangladeshi illustrator and animator. From a very young age he was drawn towards cartoons and comics and wanted to become an artist. After getting his BFA and MFA degrees from Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, he is now living his childhood dreams. He worked in Bangladesh's first 2D animated feature film "Mujib Amar Pita'' as a character designer and animator.

Rani, wearing her beloved seashell necklace, enjoys going to school and playing with her little sister, Asma. But her family falls into hard times and she must leave school to support them. Though she is upset at first, a chance meeting at a refugee camp helps Rani to understand the true meaning of family and friendship. This story is part of The Asia Foundation’s Gom Acho Collection.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in English

Author: Raya Rahman & Shazia Omar

Illustrator: Sayeef Mahmud

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-30-3

About the Authors: Shazia Omar is a writer, activist and yogini. She has written two novels, "Like a Diamond in the Sky" and "Dark Diamond" and a mind, body, spirit book "Intentional Smile: A Girl's Guide to Positive Living". She writes a column for The Daily Star Magazine in Bangladesh called Kundalini Rising.  

Raya Rahman is the founder and editor of a children's bilingual picture book company called Guba Publishing. She works in partnership with cause driven  non-profit organizations to publish diverse and multicultural children's stories and learning resources.

About the Illustrator: Sayeef Mahmud is an illustrator by day and animator by night based in Dhaka. Most of his work focuses on the surrounding that he belongs to with the mix of science fiction and fantasy. Urban space drawings have been a big part of his work for the past 5 years. Wants to work hard enough till he can afford to be a full-time farmer for the rest of his time.

While serving customers at the teashop where he works, Bokul overhears their discontentment with refugees arriving in their town. He can't help but feel the same way until one day at the beach, he meets some boys from the refugee camp. Their kind gesture and his grandmother's wisdom helps Bokul to embrace a more compassionate outlook. This story is part of The Asia Foundation's Gom Acho Collection. 

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in English

Author: Asma Ul Husna Sanchita

Illustrator: Sayan Mukherjee

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-28-0

About the Author: Sanchita is a creative writer, a cartoonist and a teacher from Dhaka, Bangladesh. As a cartoonist, a few of her cartoons have been exhibited in competitions held by 'Unmad' and 'Bangladesh Cartoon Association'. She is also the author of two illustrated children’s stories in Let's Read Asia of The Asia Foundation. Sanchita’s purpose in life is to make this world a little bit better for the next generation through her stories.

About the Illustrator: Sayan Mukherjee is a story illustrator, character designer, lifestyle and mural artist born and raised in India. After spending several years working within the advertising world, Sayan went into his solo career pursuing his passion for illustration and storytelling. Sayan likes to preserve all the good memories in his sketchbooks. He always carries his sketchbook when he travels and captures moments with his brush strokes.

A young Rohingya boy learns from his grandfather that the white elephant is a symbol of peace and unity. When his people are violently exiled from their homeland of Myanmar, the boy must find a way to bring back cultural harmony. And save the white elephant. This story is part of The Asia Foundation's Gom Acho Collection.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in English

Author: Mayyu Ali

Illustrator: Nabidur Rahman

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 48 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-26-6

About the Author: Mayyu Ali is a Rohingya poet and the author of EXODUS: Between Genocide and Me. He has published op-eds in The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, Financial Times, The Independent, CNN, and Al Jazeera. He is the editor and co-founder of The Art Garden Rohingya, a community-led online platform which aims to revive Rohingya art, literature and culture. Mayyu was born in Arakan, Myanmar. During the violence in August 2017, he fled to Bangladesh with his family.

About the Illustrator: Nabidur Rahman is an animator, illustrator, VR artist and filmmaker from Bangladesh. Nabidur is passionate about telling stories. He uses different mediums of creative visual arts to express his thoughts and worldview through artwork. Nabidur obtained a degree in animation filmmaking at The Korea National University of Arts.

Rani, wearing her beloved seashell necklace, enjoys going to school and playing with her little sister, Asma. But her family falls into hard times and she must leave school to support them. Though she is upset at first, a chance meeting at a refugee camp helps Rani to understand the true meaning of family and friendship. This story is part of The Asia Foundation’s Gom Acho Collection.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in Bengali

Author: Raya Rahman & Shazia Omar

Illustrator: Sayeef Mahmud

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-31-0

About the Authors: Shazia Omar is a writer, activist and yogini. She has written two novels, "Like a Diamond in the Sky" and "Dark Diamond" and a mind, body, spirit book "Intentional Smile: A Girl's Guide to Positive Living". She writes a column for The Daily Star Magazine in Bangladesh called Kundalini Rising.  

Raya Rahman is the founder and editor of a children's bilingual picture book company called Guba Publishing. She works in partnership with cause driven  non-profit organizations to publish diverse and multicultural children's stories and learning resources.

About the Illustrator: Sayeef Mahmud is an illustrator by day and animator by night based in Dhaka. Most of his work focuses on the surrounding that he belongs to with the mix of science fiction and fantasy. Urban space drawings have been a big part of his work for the past 5 years. Wants to work hard enough till he can afford to be a full-time farmer for the rest of his time.

Hafsa, a young Rohingya girl, lives in a Bangladeshi refugee camp with her mother and little brother. Life isn't easy there, but they struggle by, with the help of kind neighbors and their mother's resourcefulness. One day, Hafsa finds her brother, Hafiz, playing with an old razor. The incident stirs up memories of her life in their homeland of Myanmar, where Hafsa used to play with safe, homemade toys. When Hafiz is curious to know about the home they had left behind, Hafsa and her mother share beautiful memories of their village and family life. This story is part of The Asia Foundation's Gom Acho Collection.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in Bengali

Author: Yasmin Ullah

Illustrator: Rafiuzzaman Rhythom

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-25-9

About the Author: Yasmin Ullah is a Rohingya human rights activist. She was born in the Northern Rakhine state of Myanmar. Her family fled to Thailand before resetting in Canada in 2011. Details of her previous works such as Time to Act: Rohingya Voices exhibition with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and the Genocide Learning Tool with the Montréal Holocaust Museum can be found on both Museums' sites. Yasmin published her poetry in the Anthology: I Am A Rohingya in 2019, and later in 2021, she was named on the FemiList100, the Gender Security Project list of 100 women from the Global South, working in foreign policy, peacebuilding, law, activism, and development.

About the Illustrator: Rafiuzzaman Rhythom is a Bangladeshi illustrator and animator. From a very young age he was drawn towards cartoons and comics and wanted to become an artist. After getting his BFA and MFA degrees from Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, he is now living his childhood dreams. He worked in Bangladesh's first 2D animated feature film "Mujib Amar Pita'' as a character designer and animator.

A young Rohingya boy learns from his grandfather that the white elephant is a symbol of peace and unity. When his people are violently exiled from their homeland of Myanmar, the boy must find a way to bring back cultural harmony. And save the white elephant. This story is part of The Asia Foundation's Gom Acho Collection.

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in Bengali

Author: Mayyu Ali

Illustrator: Nabidur Rahman

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 48 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-27-3

About the Author: Mayyu Ali is a Rohingya poet and the author of EXODUS: Between Genocide and Me. He has published op-eds in The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, Financial Times, The Independent, CNN, and Al Jazeera. He is the editor and co-founder of The Art Garden Rohingya, a community-led online platform which aims to revive Rohingya art, literature and culture. Mayyu was born in Arakan, Myanmar. During the violence in August 2017, he fled to Bangladesh with his family.

About the Illustrator: Nabidur Rahman is an animator, illustrator, VR artist and filmmaker from Bangladesh. Nabidur is passionate about telling stories. He uses different mediums of creative visual arts to express his thoughts and worldview through artwork. Nabidur obtained a degree in animation filmmaking at The Korea National University of Arts.

While serving customers at the teashop where he works, Bokul overhears their discontentment with refugees arriving in their town. He can't help but feel the same way until one day at the beach, he meets some boys from the refugee camp. Their kind gesture and his grandmother's wisdom helps Bokul to embrace a more compassionate outlook. This story is part of The Asia Foundation's Gom Acho Collection. 

Product Description: Children's illustrated picture book in Bengali

Author: Asma Ul Husna Sanchita

Illustrator: Sayan Mukherjee

Format: Hardback

For ages: 4 to 8 years

Pages: 32 

Size: 8”x10"

ISBN: 978-1-946747-29-7

About the Author: Sanchita is a creative writer, a cartoonist and a teacher from Dhaka, Bangladesh. As a cartoonist, a few of her cartoons have been exhibited in competitions held by 'Unmad' and 'Bangladesh Cartoon Association'. She is also the author of two illustrated children’s stories in Let's Read Asia of The Asia Foundation. Sanchita’s purpose in life is to make this world a little bit better for the next generation through her stories.

About the Illustrator: Sayan Mukherjee is a story illustrator, character designer, lifestyle and mural artist born and raised in India. After spending several years working within the advertising world, Sayan went into his solo career pursuing his passion for illustration and storytelling. Sayan likes to preserve all the good memories in his sketchbooks. He always carries his sketchbook when he travels and captures moments with his brush strokes.