| Hena Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | United States of America |
| Occupation | Novelist, picture book writer |
| Language | English |
| Education | George Washington University; MA in International Affairs |
| Genre | picture books, middle grade fiction |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Notable works | Amina's Voice, Amina's Song |
| Notable awards | 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | |
| henakhan | |
Hena Khan (born 1973 or 1974) is an American author of children's books. Khan is best known for her middle-grade novel Amina's Voice and its follow-up novel, Amina's Song, which won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature in 2022. Amina's Voice was the first book published under Simon & Schuster's Salaam Reads imprint in 2017. Khan has authored or co-authored more than twenty picture and middle-grade books.
Early life and education
Khan grew up near Rockville, Maryland, as the second of four children born to Pakistani immigrants. Growing up, she enjoyed checking out books from the library.
Khan earned an MA in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Career
Prior to becoming an author, Khan worked with non-profit health and research organizations as a writer and editor.
She has mentioned Beverly Cleary as a writing hero, particularly her Ramona series, and has also cited Louisa May Alcott's Little Women as inspiration for her novel More to the Story.
Khan was approached by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to co-author a Curious George book, titled It's Ramadan, Curious George.
Personal life
Khan lives with her family in Rockville, Maryland, and has two sons. She is Muslim.
Works
Novels
- Amina's Voice (Salaam Reads, 2017)
- Power Forward (Salaam Reads, 2018)
- On Point (Salaam Reads, 2018)
- Bounce Back (Salaam Reads, 2018)
- More to the Story (Salaam Reads, 2020)
- Amina's Song (Salaam Reads, 2021)
- The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Secret of the Himalayas, co-authored with Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly (Penguin Random House, 2021)
- Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun (Salaam Reads, 2022)
- Super You! Power of Flight: A Pick-Your-Path Adventure, co-authored with Andrea Menotti, illustrated by Yancey Labat (Penguin Random House, 2022)
- Zara’s Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure (Salaam Reads, 2022)
- Super You! Power of Invisibility: A Pick-Your-Path Adventure, co-authored with Andrea Menotti, illustrated by Yancey Labat (Penguin Random House, 2023)
- Zara’s Rules for Living Your Best Life (Salaam Reads, 2023)
Picture books
- Night of the Moon, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Chronicle Books, 2008)
- Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle Books, 2012)
- It's Ramadan, Curious George, co-authored with H. A. Rey (Clarion Books, 2016)
- Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle Books, 2018)
- Under My Hijab, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel (Lee & Low Books, 2019)
- Like the Moon Loves the Sky, illustrated by Saffa Khan (Chronicle Books, 2020)
- One Sun and Countless Stars: A Muslim Book of Numbers, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle Books, 2022)
- Zain’s Super Friday, illustrated by Nez Riaz (Lee & Low Books, 2023)
Awards
- 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature for Amina's Song
References
- "About Hena". Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ "2022 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Winners". Asian Pacific American Librarians Association. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- "Salaam Reads Aims to Publish Muslim YA Stories". Teen Vogue. 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- "Hena Khan - My Books". Hena Khan. 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- Sole, Sarah (2019-02-05). "Dublin Literacy Conference: Author Hena Khan plans conversation on inclusion of all voices". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ Quattlebaum, Mary (2017-03-20). "A step toward greater diversity in children's books: Hena Khan's 'Amina's Voice'". The Washington Post.
- Williams, Ashleigh (2019-10-25). "Hena Khan's More to the Story is a Love Letter to Little Women". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ "Hena Khan (she/her)". The Author Village. 2018. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- "Interview with Hena Khan, Author of More to the Story!". From the Mixed Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ Hatuqa, Dalia (2016-07-04). "Curious George embraces Ramadan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- Mubtadi, Vina (2016-07-01). "This Ramadan, Curious George Helps Friend to Fast". Voice of America News. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- "Author Spotlight: Interview with Hena Khan". From the Mixed Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- Farooq, Umar (2019-03-03). "Muslim author aims to lift veil on misjudged concept". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- 21st-century American women writers
- Living people
- American women writers of young adult literature
- American writers of young adult literature
- American children's writers
- 21st-century American novelists
- American women novelists
- American writers of Pakistani descent
- George Washington University alumni
- Muslims from Maryland
- Muslim women
- People from Rockville, Maryland