{"id":8605,"date":"2017-11-29T12:59:40","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T17:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.ryerson.ca\/asianheritage\/?page_id=8605"},"modified":"2026-02-01T20:56:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T01:56:44","slug":"naseem-hrab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/authors\/naseem-hrab\/","title":{"rendered":"Naseem Hrab"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Naseem Hrab is a writer, storyteller, lover of comedy and former library worker who now works in children’s publishing in Toronto, Ontario. Naseem means spring breeze in Farsi and Hrab is Ukrainian for hornbeam tree. Listen to Naseem<\/a> tell these meanings in her own voice. Hrab was named publisher at Kids Can Press in June 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every Space Between<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by John Martz.
Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2026.
forthcoming March 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can find in-betweens everywhere! Some are as overlooked as the space between an itch and a scratch. Others are as thrilling as the pause between making a wish and blowing out your birthday candles. How you feel about an in-between really does depend on your perspective … and each one is full of potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you spot the spaces in-between, everything changes. Instead of rushing from one thing to the next, you can pause to collect and reflect. Is this something you really want to do? How much longer can you wait? Maybe it’s time to say … sorry?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How Not to Rescue a Snail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2026.
Forthcoming Sept. 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Snail is a big fan of tiny changes\u2014like wearing a fake mustache, turning the TV volume way down low, and staying up late with his grammy. Whenever Grammy Slug comes to visit, they do all the same things in the same order. But Grammy is adventurous, and one day on their usual walk she suggests they take a different path. Snail feels anxious about making a change, but with encouragement from Grammy he braves the new trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snail starts to enjoy himself, but that all changes when a hand comes down from above, lifting him right off the ground and placing him somewhere new. Alone and afraid, Snail does what he always does when he\u2019s scared \u2026 schoomp! He hides in his shell. But Snail soon discovers that he\u2019s not alone\u2014the Shellstein family has also been \u201crescued\u201d by the hand. The Shellsteins are terrified, and Snail realizes it\u2019s up to him to get everyone safely home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fourth instalment of the sweetly humorous and heartwarming Snail & Stump series celebrates Snail as an unlikely hero and shows that even the quietest voices can be brave, helpful, and strong
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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How to Be Brave Like a Snail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2025.
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Synopsis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Snail\u2019s not afraid of (certain) loud noises, exploring the glade, or lullaby karaoke. But he is afraid of asking for help, making mistakes, and believing in himself. And so, it\u2019s only with support from his best friend Stump that he finds the courage to enter a local paper airplane contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, after the contest, it\u2019s Stump who needs support when he becomes heated and upset after not winning a ribbon. Fortunately, Snail knows just what to do to help Stump work through his difficult feelings. Together, they find the courage to tell each other exactly how they feel\u2014prickly thoughts and all!\u2014and then they write their feelings down on paper airplanes and let them go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their third laugh-out-loud adventure, Snail and Stump discover that the best kind of brave is finding the courage to share your feelings, even when your bravery is playing hide-and-seek.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How to Party Like a Snail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Snail is a party animal. Well…kind of. He loves the quiet things about parties: confetti, making new friends (using his indoor voice, of course), and the silence before everyone yells, \u201cSURPRISE!\u201d But when parties get loud, Snail retreats into his shell. He\u2019s still partying, but no one can tell he\u2019s having a good time while he\u2019s tucked inside. His friends don\u2019t understand why he doesn\u2019t love loud parties like they do, and soon Snail\u2019s party invites begin to dry up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response, Snail decides to plan his own quiet<\/em> party, complete with warm milk and lullaby lip-syncing. But something is missing\u2014does Snail long for the \u201cloud\u201dafter all? That\u2019s when Stump, a fellow introvert, chimes in with an idea. Maybe Snail isn\u2019t missing the \u201cloud\u201d\u2026maybe he\u2019s just missing a friendto share the quiet. Together, Stump and Snail turn the lullabies down low and celebrate \u201cthe shush\u201d together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How to Staycation Like a Snail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2024.
PZ7.1.H73 H69 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Snail is an epic explorer \u2026 kind of. He loves the quiet things about adventures, like reading maps, hiking along slime trails, and collecting souvenirs. On big vacations, he finds the sights, sounds, and unfamiliar foods\u2014like escargot!\u2014way too overwhelming. In fact, his favorite part of a vacation is when he gets to return to his home SHHHweet home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while his friends take a trip to the city, Snail and his buddy Stump decide to have an adventure in their own backyard\u2014a staycation! The pair smell the silence, listen to the SHHH SHHH of the waterfall, and read their guidebooks with their indoor voices. Just when they start to wonder if they\u2019ve run out of things to do, they notice something new: parachute seeds falling from the sky! The seeds have arrived for a vacation, and who better to show them around than Stump and Snail?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I Will Not Walk to School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2026.
forthcoming May 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s eight o\u2019clock, Bird tells Monster \u2015 time to walk to school. Monster stays in bed. It\u2019s not school he\u2019s resisting. He loves school! It\u2019s the getting there he hates. And, today, Monster declares, he will not walk to school. Will Bird\u2019s cajoling help? Nope. How about Bird\u2019s reminder that the pancake breakfast is today? Hmm. Will there be pepperoni and pineapple on those pancakes? Erm \u2026 yes? With maple syrup on the side? Yes. Okay. Monster will drag himself out the door. But, no matter what, he will not walk to school!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Josh Holinaty.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2018.
PZ7.1.H73 I73 2018<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n

Ma misses the sun, warmth and colors of their faraway homeland, but her daughter sees magic in everything \u2014 the clouds in the winter sky, the \u201cfirework\u201d display when she throws an armful of snow into the air, making snow angels, tasting snowflakes. And in the end, her joy is contagious. Home is where family is, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira and Malcolm are best friends: they always make each other laugh, always eat lunch together, and always play together. But one day, a disagreement about whether to play tag or hide-and-seek sees the suddenly \u00fcber-popular Malcolm run off with a crowd of tag-loving kids\u2014and Ira all alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira\u2019s tummy hurts, his chin is wibbling, and his eyes are leaking. What\u2019s happening?! Any efforts to cheer him up fall flat. When Malcolm finally returns and asks what\u2019s wrong, Ira tells him: \u201cI had all these feelings\u2026and I didn\u2019t have you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second Ira Crumb book marks the return of an endearing character full of personality, humor, and heart. With lots of laughs and comics-style storytelling, it\u2019s a funny, touching look at how feelings can be confusing, and how processing emotions can take time\u2014and a bit of help from a pretty good friend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ira Crumb Makes a Pretty Good Friend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Josh Holinaty.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n

Ma misses the sun, warmth and colors of their faraway homeland, but her daughter sees magic in everything \u2014 the clouds in the winter sky, the \u201cfirework\u201d display when she throws an armful of snow into the air, making snow angels, tasting snowflakes. And in the end, her joy is contagious. Home is where family is, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Ira Crumb. He\u2019s the new kid in town. He knows what that<\/em> means: when the new school year starts, he\u2019ll play alone at recess, eat alone at lunch, and walk home alone at the end of the day. So Ira launches a whole-hearted campaign to befriend neighborhood kids before<\/em> the first day. But his best-laid plans \u2014 A sandwich stand! A dance-off! \u2014 fall flat, and playing it cool doesn\u2019t seem to work either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as Ira decides school will be HORRIBLE, a comical misunderstanding connects him with Malcolm, who was the new kid last year and totally gets it \u2014 and who, it turns out, will make a pretty good friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full of comedic touches, comics-style storytelling, and a diverse cast of quirky characters, this hilarious debut picture book puts an endearing spin on the anxiety that accompanies change and making friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Otis & Peanut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drawings by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat may seem like unlikely friends, but Otis and Peanut are a perfect pair!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In three stories told in graphic-novel form, Otis and Peanut explore themes of loss, fear of change, and cooperation, while demonstrating what it means to be a supportive and caring friend. In \u201cThe Haircut,\u201d Otis worries about getting a haircut because he\u2019s afraid he\u2019ll look so different that he\u2019ll no longer be himself. In \u201cThe Swing,\u201d Peanut helps Otis come to terms with missing a beloved friend. And in \u201cThe House,\u201d Otis struggles to make his house a home but succeeds with Peanut\u2019s help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards and Honours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2024 The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for Best Kids’ Book<\/a> (Winner)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Otis & Peanut: Find a Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drawings by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2025.
forthcoming April 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Synopsis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Otis and Peanut are back with more playful and profound stories in the third instalment of this critically acclaimed junior graphic novel series. Together, the iconic long-haired guinea pig and naked mole rat continue to navigate deep truths about life and human nature while letting their sweet and supportive friendship shine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Otis & Peanut: Forever and Ever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drawings by Kelly Collier.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2024.
PZ7.1.H73 O85 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Otis and Peanut are back! Grounded in the tender, supportive friendship between a long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat, the second book in this junior graphic novel series explores themes of celebrating life’s simple pleasures, grief, and making new memories with sensitivity, humor, and optimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three stories in this book reveal how the pair feel the loss of Pearl, Peanut\u2019s sister and Otis\u2019s friend. In \u201cThe Cake,\u201d Peanut bakes a sweet treat for Otis using Pearl\u2019s recipe and teaches him that there\u2019s always a good reason to eat cake\u2014even if it\u2019s for no reason at all! In \u201cThe Dream,\u201d Peanut is missing his sister, but finds a way to keep her memory close. And in \u201cThe Collection,\u201d the two friends celebrate old memories, and make some new ones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sour Cherry Tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Nahid Kazemi.
Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2021.
PZ7.1.H73 S68 2021<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After her grandfather\u2019s death, a young girl wanders through his house. As she tours each room, the objects she discovers stir memories of her grandfather\u2014her baba bozorg. His closet full of clothes reminds her of the mints he kept in his pockets. His favorite teacup conjures thoughts of the fig cookies he would offer her. The curtains in the living room bring up memories of hide-and-seek games and the special relationship that she and her baba bozorg shared, even though they spoke different languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards and Honours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2022 Governor-General’s Literary Award–Young People’s Literature–Illustrated books<\/a> (Winner)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Weekend Dad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrated by Frank Viva.
Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n

Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)<\/h4>\n

Ma misses the sun, warmth and colors of their faraway homeland, but her daughter sees magic in everything \u2014 the clouds in the winter sky, the \u201cfirework\u201d display when she throws an armful of snow into the air, making snow angels, tasting snowflakes. And in the end, her joy is contagious. Home is where family is, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis home is home because my dad is here, and it\u2019s nothing like home because my mom isn\u2019t here,\u201d thinks the boy in this story when he enters his dad\u2019s new apartment for the first time. His dad moved out on Monday and now it\u2019s Friday night, the start of his weekend with his dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boy and his dad follow their normal weekend routine \u2014 they eat eggs for breakfast, play cards and spend time at the park. And then they do the same things on Sunday. It is hard to say goodbye at the end of the weekend, but Dad gives his son a letter to remind him that, even if his dad can\u2019t always be there, the boy is loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naseem Hrab has written a poignant yet hopeful story, strikingly illustrated in Frank Viva\u2019s signature style, about what happens when parents separate, and the new reality of having two homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards and Honours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

2020 Governor General’s Literary Award-Young People’s Literature-Illustrated Books, English language (Finalist)
2021 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award (Finalist)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Naseem Hrab personal website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher Groundwood Books<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publisher Owlkids<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Party Like a Snail discussion guide and coloring sheets<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Naseem Hrab is a writer, storyteller, lover of comedy and former library worker who now works in children’s publishing in Toronto, Ontario. Naseem means spring breeze in Farsi and Hrab is Ukrainian for hornbeam tree. Listen to Naseem tell these … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":16,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8605","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8605"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21488,"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8605\/revisions\/21488"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.torontomu.ca\/asianheritage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}