Hena Khan Explained

Genre:	picture books, middle grade fiction
Notableworks:	Amina's Voice, Amina's Song
Years Active:	2008–present
Language:	English
Awards:	2022 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature
Birth Place:	United States of America
Education:	George Washington University MA in International Affairs
Children:	2
Occupation:	Novelist, picture book writer

Hena Khan^[1] (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.^[2] Amina's Voice was the first book published under Simon & Schuster's Salaam Reads imprint in 2017.^[3] Khan has authored or co-authored more than twenty picture and middle-grade books.^[4]

Early life and education

Khan grew up near Rockville, Maryland, as the second of four children born to Pakistani immigrants.^{[5] [6]} Growing up, she enjoyed checking out books from the library.^[7]

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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Khan was approached by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to co-author a Curious George book, titled It's Ramadan, Curious George.^{[10] [11]}

Personal life

Khan lives with her family in Rockville, Maryland, and has two sons.^[12] 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)^[13]
• 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Hena. en. 2024-01-01.
2. Web site: 2022 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Winners. 2022-01-24. Asian Pacific American Librarians Association. en-US. 2024-01-01.
3. Web site: Salaam Reads Aims to Publish Muslim YA Stories. 2017-03-02. Teen Vogue. en-US. 2024-01-01.
4. Web site: Hena Khan - My Books. 2024. Hena Khan. en-US. 2024-01-01.
5. Web site: Sole . Sarah . 2019-02-05 . Dublin Literacy Conference: Author Hena Khan plans conversation on inclusion of all voices . 2024-01-01 . The Columbus Dispatch . en-US.
6. News: Quattlebaum . Mary . 2017-03-20 . A step toward greater diversity in children's books: Hena Khan's 'Amina's Voice' . The Washington Post .
7. Web site: Williams . Ashleigh . 2019-10-25 . Hena Khan's More to the Story is a Love Letter to Little Women . 2024-01-01 . School Library Journal.
8. Web site: 2018 . Hena Khan (she/her) . 2024-01-01 . The Author Village . en-US.
9. Web site: 2020-10-21 . Interview with Hena Khan, Author of More to the Story! . 2024-01-01 . From the Mixed Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors . en-US.
10. Web site: Hatuqa . Dalia . 2016-07-04 . Curious George embraces Ramadan . 2024-01-01 . Al Jazeera . en.
11. News: Mubtadi . Vina . 2016-07-01 . This Ramadan, Curious George Helps Friend to Fast . Voice of America News . 2024-01-01.
12. Web site: Author Spotlight: Interview with Hena Khan. 2022-10-28. From the Mixed Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. en-US. 2024-01-01.
13. Web site: Farooq . Umar . 2019-03-03 . Muslim author aims to lift veil on misjudged concept . 2024-01-01 . www.aa.com.tr.