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September 2025 | Volume XLIII, Issue 3 »

The Storyteller's Journey: Building a Community through Arabic Storytelling

September 2, 2025
Amani Rashid, Orland Park Public Library & Palos Heights Public Library

As excited children and parents wait outside Room 104, an announcement for Arabic Bilingual Storytime begins, given by Alexander Pappas, Orland Park Public Library’s Children’s Librarian. My storytime partner’s voice echoes throughout the Youth Department. Several children hurry to the front row, eagerly anticipating the storytime’s theme, which often includes games and songs. The familiar and new faces with their friendly smiles and laughter inspire me to continue  creating a welcoming space where everyone feels they belong.

Alex cheerfully begins, “Hello, I’m Alex!” I smile and greet, “Marhaba wa Asalamu Alaykum, I’m Amani! We are excited you’re all here with us for an exciting time.” The greetings and storytimes are offered in English and Arabic, creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Alex and I enthusiastically introduce today’s storytime theme,  "Colors,” with a picture book filled with interactive images and inserts that keep the kids engaged and moving. During storytime, the children get ready to shake, twist, and jump along with Alex and me to an Arabic children’s song, incorporating a movement activity. With excitement, everyone counts in Arabic from one to ten, “Wahad, Ithnayn, Thalatha, etc.,” and jumps with joy when they reach ten, shouting, “Ashara!” Before Arabic Storytime concludes, we introduce the “Guess the Color in Arabic” game, giving the children an opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of assorted colors in Arabic. As Arabic Storytime comes to an end, Alex and I say together, “See you next time! Ma’asalama. Goodbye!”

My journey to Arabic Storytime began at Orland Park Public Library (OPPL) in 2021, when I stepped into my new position as an Adult Services Assistant. From the very beginning, I was encouraged to lean into my passion for storytelling and to find ways to serve Arabic-speaking families in the community. My supervisor, Natalie Finlon, believed in both my voice and my vision, encouraging me to pursue programs, resources, and services, all while continuing my education. In 2022, with her support, I returned to school to further my education and professional growth, enrolling in the Library and Information Technology program at the College of DuPage. It was a big step, but I never felt alone. The encouragement didn’t stop with Natalie; Mary Adamowski, OPPL’s Director, and the entire Adult Services Department were just as uplifting. Mary had a way of making me feel seen. She’d pause in the hallway to ask, "How are your classes going?” or gently remind me, “Don’t forget to submit your tuition reimbursement,” as the semester wrapped up. The support, motivation, and empowering environment at OPPL made a lasting impact, one I’ll always carry with me. While working towards my degree, I applied for and completed an internship with Jesse Blazek, the Director of Palos Heights Public Library (PHPL).

Once a month, on a Wednesday afternoon at OPPL, Room 104 fills with the sound of excited children’s voices, and bilingual Arabic stories and songs that teach about shapes, manners, colors, etc. Bilingual Arabic Storytime has become more than just a monthly event, but also a space for community connection. With the support and mentorship of Alex, I learned how to bring books to life, either bilingual stories or translating popular English titles into Arabic and blending them with songs and games. Our voices are filled with drama and excitement, and the characters’ emotions can be heard down the hall by Patron Services. Monthly attendance ranges from 50 to 70 attendees, and more than 300 people join us each year for our special Ramadan and Eid celebrations. On February 25, 2025, over 300 attendees gathered for the “Ready for Ramadan” program to celebrate the beginning of Ramadan! We offered patrons a build-a-mosque craft, a variety of games, and, of course, six storytime sessions. The highlight of the event was our storytime sessions on the picture book Ilyas & Duck-Ramadan Joy! by Omar S. Khawaja. The children’s laughter, along with the many who returned to hear the story again, made the evening truly unforgettable, particularly the young patron who joined me as a backup singer, harmonizing with the sounds I created.

One of the most cherished moments in my journey happened during my internship at PHPL, when I led my very first Bilingual Arabic Storytime, “Welcome Ramadan.” With the support and encouragement of Tina Ruszala, the Youth Department Manager, I planned and delivered the entire program on my own, welcoming 30 attendees. I still  remember the joy and curiosity on the children’s faces as we read an interactive Ramadan picture book together. Afterward, we made crafts that celebrated the holiday, and the session ended with a mini-Ramadan parade through the library, visiting different departments. The sound of children’s laughter echoing through the halls made it all feel magical. To gain insight into storytime, Tina assigned me to observe storytime sessions for ages birth to preschool with reference librarians to learn the different techniques, styles, and approaches. During my observations with Youth Librarian Carla Dinnocenzo, she advised“repetition,” with welcome songs, nursery rhymes, and interactive play to build vocabulary and language skills, enhance memory, and foster a comfort zone. One year later, on February 28, 2025, my second “Welcome Ramadan” Storytime program at PHPL saw a significant increase in attendance, doubling the numbers from the previous year, with 70 attendees.

Leading my Bilingual Arabic Storytime on my own was a turning point. It wasn’t just about reading books or planning activities, it was about connecting community members, creating joyful memories, and discovering my voice as a future librarian. Tina’s encouragement helped me realize that I was capable of so much more than I had imagined. In September 2024, I was offered a position as a Youth Assistant at PHPL and began offering Bilingual Arabic Storytime, a monthly 30-minute session that includes storytelling, crafts, music, and interactive play. At PHPL, storytime quickly gained admiration from parents and community members. Within minutes on the opening day of registration, Bilingual Arabic Storytime fills with a waiting list. A typical Arabic Storytime session starts with a welcome song that includes my name, ‘Ahlan wa Sahlan…,’ giving every child a chance to introduce themselves as parents sing along and clap. The children playfully dance with egg shakers and scarves, surrounded by floating bubbles. I often include storytelling paired with activities like finger play, puppets, bubble time, a fun parachute activity with nursery rhymes translated into Arabic, and hands-on crafts, ending with social, interactive play for both children and parents.

One of the most valuable aspects of hosting Arabic Storytime is receiving feedback, whether it’s comments, suggestions, or expressions of gratitude. I love hearing what resonated, what could be improved, and what families would like to see next. Their input has invited me to take initiative, be creative, and learn through experience. I have been invited to contribute in meaningful ways, whether it’s creating programs, curating Arabic children’s materials, or designing crafts in the vibrant makerspace. The youth librarians at PHPL have shared valuable tips on overcoming challenges and creating a fun, engaging storytime. One piece of advice that resonates with me is, “It isn’t a performance, but rather an interactive experience.”

Providing Bilingual Arabic Storytime at Orland Park and Palos Heights Public Libraries is essential for promoting cultural inclusivity and awareness, supporting language development, building community connections, fostering literacy, and enhancing cultural understanding to meet the diverse needs of children and families. Creating these wonderful programs for our community members requires a dedicated team effort. The supportive work environment at both libraries has played a crucial role in my growth, encouraging professional development, fostering collaborative teamwork, and inspiring innovation and creativity, all of which have been invaluable in guiding my work with Bilingual Arabic Storytime.