Splendidly Sawsan: A Picture Book

Sawsan is a storyteller and a dreamer, a mover and a shaker. Her imagination sends her soaring into space or diving deep into the ocean with the jellyfish!

With all her energy and excitement, words EXPLODE out of her mouth during story time. Sitting still at school feels IMPOSSIBLE! And sometimes, when her feelings swell up and BURST! like waves, it feels like she’s not in control of her brain or her body―even though she’s trying her best.

“Let’s create a strategy, you and me,” says Dr. Salim . . . After all, she knows Sawsan isn’t “rude” or “bad”―she just needs a little help navigating her big, bursty emotions.

A story of affirming others and learning to love yourself, this social-emotional learning picture book follows a vivacious, neurodivergent child who sees the world a little differently―and maybe that’s a pretty splendid thing.

Razan Abdin is a Palestinian writer who grew up in the American South and spent many summers in her ancestral homeland. She has been scribbling down stories since elementary school. When Abdin isn’t busy arranging words on a page, she can be found exploring places near and far, filling her life with art (in all its forms), or daydreaming about a better world where everyone has what they need to thrive. She currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas―on the traditional land of the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw people―with her wild, wonderful standard poodle, Margot. Splendidly Sawsan is her debut book. Shahrzad Maydani is an award-winning illustrator and storyteller, and the author-illustrator of Leila and the Voice. She has illustrated picture books including Sister Friend by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Francis Discovers Possible by Ashlee Latimer, among others. Her work has received honors such as the Crystal Kite Award, a Kids Indie Next List pick, Junior Library Guild selection, multiple Bank Street Best Books, the Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award, and starred reviews.