Seguo il filo (أَتْبَعُ الْخَيْط)

This is a conceptual and evocative picture book that explores the delicate state of being "in-between." It focuses on the feelings associated with moving from one place to another or transitioning from one stage of life to the next. The "thread" serves as a visual and metaphorical guide, leading the reader through a journey where the past and future blur, and the present feels like a shifting landscape.

The narrative touches on the deep-seated human feeling of not fully belonging to any single time or place—a sentiment that resonates strongly with the Palestinian experience of diaspora and displacement. Through its bilingual text, the book invites children to follow this thread of identity and memory, turning a complex emotional state into a tangible, colorful journey of self-discovery.

Target Age: 6+ years

Author: Alaa Qaraman (آلَاء قَرْمَان)

She is a Palestinian writer and artist who has worked extensively with the Tamer Institute in Palestine. Her work often focuses on the emotional and psychological landscapes of children living under occupation or in states of transition. She is known for her ability to translate heavy themes—like loss, nostalgia, and the search for home—into gentle, accessible narratives that validate a child's inner world.

Illustrator: Haya Halawan (هَيَا حَلَوَان)

She is a talented illustrator whose visual language brings the "thread" to life. Like Qaraman, Halawan is deeply connected to the Palestinian artistic community, which uses literature as a tool for "expressive arts" therapy.

Both creators have been involved in projects that support children in refugee camps and marginalized communities, using storytelling to build resilience and help young people process their reality through imagination and art. Their collaboration on this book was specifically aimed at bridging the gap between Middle Eastern narratives and European audiences.