Mary and Her New Friends

Mariam, who is lovingly called Mary by her family, is lonely at school but makes new friends by demonstrating a talent drawn from her native culture: drawing henna patterns on hands.

Mary and Her New Friends is written specifically to attract pre-schoolers and kindergarteners, and includes some coloring pages of sample henna patterns at the end of the book. The children can color in these, thereby developing their creativity and fine motor skills.

Fawzia Reza has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and a Master’s degree in Childhood Education. She conducts research and presents talks on subjects related to the education of young children across the world. She has two daughters, and lives in California with her husband.