By Ethan Keller, Co-Founder of the Locke Society.
While many individuals and commentators are still shocked that young Americans have flooded the streets in support of Hamas, this is likely just the beginning. While no one was paying attention, the massive non-profit organization First Book was promoting and selling a pro-Palestine book that is written for children as young as four years old. The book was featured prominently in their “New Arrivals” section and is titled
Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine.
First Book purchases books by the hundreds, or even thousands, and resells them at extreme discounts to librarians and teachers across the country. Previously, we have covered this organization’s work in getting sexually explicit books, as well as anti-American and racist books into classrooms across the country.
At first glance, Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine does not seem like a book that would be problematic. The synopsis states, “A Palestinian family celebrates the stories of their homeland in this moving autobiographical picture book debut by Hannah Moushabeck. With heartfelt illustrations by Reem Madooh, Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine is a love letter to home, to family, and to the persisting hope of people, which transcends borders.”
The fact that this book was so prominently promoted on First Book’s website shortly after Hamas’ cold-blooded terror attack on Israel on October 7th should be a major cause for concern. Educators across the nation were grasping for any resources they could find to show the “reason” for the attack, and this book perfectly fits the search.
The book is well-written, and will pull on the heartstrings of those that read it. The author talks about how a father of two girls lost his home and everything his family owned, and how he only has a rusty old key left. The author, publisher, and organizations that promote the book will claim that it is not an anti-Semitic or anti-Israel book as neither Israel nor Jewish people are mentioned in any part of it, but the reference to Jerusalem will open that door to discuss it. The memories recalled in the book focus on Jerusalem, which according to anti-Israel protesters today, is stolen land. (More information on the real history behind the Israel-Palestine conflict can be found in our lesson: https://lockesociety.org/israel-palestine-conflict/).
This book in the hands of a teacher is especially concerning if the teacher is an anti-Israel advocate. The book ends in a way that will lead the reader, or listener, to ask “why can’t they go back?” This opens the door for the adult in the room to politically sway any young reader and form their political allegiances as they respond to the question.
What is most troubling is that First Book sold out of this book by the end of November
2023 and has restocked their store to sell more. This means that hundreds, or even
thousands of classrooms, libraries, and other educational institutions now have this
book available. Most likely, the pro-Palestine teachers and librarians, who parents
protest on a weekly basis to no avail, have these books proudly displayed and are hoping
every child will read it.
Now some may say it cannot be in libraries in conservative states where parents now
have a say, but a simple search might surprise you.
According to WorldCat Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine is available in 10 libraries in Florida including: St. Petersburg Library System, Leon County Public Library System, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Library System, Boca Raton Public Library, Miami Dade Public Library System, Orange County Library System, Sarasota County Library System, Volusia County Public Library, and Alachua County Library District. A search in WorldCat does not show the classrooms where teachers have decided to stock this book in their classroom library. So, it is likely that this book is in hundreds, if not thousands of classrooms across the country, and there is no way to know if it is in the classroom unless you have access to that classroom library.
Still we have taken the time to catalog the libraries by state that do show the book available on WorldCat and the list is beneath. In total we found this book available in 292 libraries across the country.
Alabama
Birmingham Public Library
BPL
Birmingham, AL, United States
Arizona
Mesa Public Library
Main Library
Mesa, AZ, United States
Maricopa County Library District
Sun Lakes, AZ, United States
PHOENIX PUBLIC LIBRARY
PHOENIX, AZ, United States
California
Ontario City Library
Ontario, CA, United States
Palm Springs Public Library
Palm Springs, CA, United States
San Diego County Library
San Diego, CA, United States
San Diego Public Library
SDPL
San Diego, CA, United States
Carlsbad City Library System
Carlsbad, CA, United States
Oceanside Public Library
Civic Center Library
Oceanside, CA, United States
OC Public Libraries
OC Public Libraries Administration / Headquarters Santa Ana, CA, United States
Orange Public Library and History Center Orange, CA, United States
Covina Public Library
Covina, CA, United States
Altadena Library District
Altadena, CA, United States
Pasadena Public Library
Central Library
Pasadena, CA, United States
LA County Library
County of Los Angeles Public Library
Downey, CA, United States
Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Glendale, CA, United States
Palos Verdes Library District
PVLD
Rolling Hills Estates, CA, United States
Santa Monica Public Library
Santa Monica, CA, United States
Thousand Oaks Public Library Grant R. Brimhall Library
Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Richmond Public Library
Richmond, CA, United States
Monterey County Free Libraries MCFL
Marina, CA, United States
San Jose Public Library
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library San Jose, CA, United States
Santa Clara County Library District Campbell, CA, United States
Yolo County Library
Administration Office
Woodland, CA, United States
Santa Clara City Library
Santa Clara, CA, United States
Alameda County Library
Fremont, CA, United States
Sunnyvale Public Library
Sunnyvale, CA, United States
Belvedere Tiburon Library
Belvedere Tiburon, CA, United States
San Anselmo Public Library San Anselmo, CA, United States
Mountain View Public Library MVPL
Mountain View, CA, United States
Contra Costa County Library Pleasant Hill, CA, United States
Palo Alto City Library
Palo Alto, CA, United States
Berkeley Public Library
Central Library
Berkeley, CA, United States
Sonoma County Library
Rohnert Park, CA, United States
Harrison Memorial Library
Carmel, CA, United States
Colorado
Montrose Regional Library District Montrose, CO, United States
Pikes Peak Library District
Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Arapahoe Library District
Arapahoe Libraries
Englewood, CO, United States
Denver Public Library
Central Library
Denver, CO, United States
University of Northern Colorado James A. Michener Library
Greeley, CO, United States
Jefferson County Public Library
JCPL
Lakewood, CO, United States
High Plains Library District
Administration & Support Services Greeley, CO, United States
Connecticut
Greenwich Library
Greenwich, CT, United States
The Ferguson Library
Stamford, CT, United States
Norwalk Public Library
Norwalk, CT, United States
Bibliomation, Inc
Waterbury, CT, United States
Lucy Robbins Welles Library
Newington, CT, United States
West Hartford Public Library
West Hartford, CT, United States
Florida
St. Petersburg Library System
St Petersburg, FL, United States
Leon County Public Library System Tallahassee, FL, United States
Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL, United States
Palm Beach County Library System Main Library
West Palm Beach, FL, United States Boca Raton Public Library
Spanish River Library
Boca Raton, FL, United States
Miami Dade Public Library System Main Library
Miami, FL, United States
Orange County Library System Orlando Public Library
Orlando, FL, United States
Sarasota County Library System Sarasota, FL, United States
Volusia County Public Library Daytona Beach, FL, United States
Alachua County Library District ACLD
Gainesville, FL, United States
Georgia
Live Oak Public Libraries
Savannah, GA, United States
Athens Regional Library System Athens Clarke County Library Athens, GA, United States
DeKalb County Public Library Decatur, GA, United States
Forsyth County Public Library Cumming, GA, United States
Idaho
Marshall Public Library
Pocatello, ID, United States
Coeur d’Alene Public Library Coeur d’Alene, ID, United States
Illinois
River Forest Public Library
River Forest, IL, United States
Evanston Public Library
Evanston, IL, United States
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Urbana, IL, United States
Champaign Public Library
Champaign, IL, United States
Morton Public Library District
Morton, IL, United States
South Holland Public Library
South Holland, IL, United States
Oak Lawn Public Library
Oak Lawn, IL, United States
Plainfield Area Public Library District Plainfield, IL, United States
Fountaindale Public Library District Bolingbrook, IL, United States
McCook Public Library District
McCook, IL, United States
Indian Prairie Public Library
Darien, IL, United States
Chicago Public Library
Harold Washington Library Center Chicago, IL, United States
Lasalle Public Library
LaSalle, IL, United States
La Grange Public Library
La Grange, IL, United States
Vernon Area Public Library District Lincolnshire, IL, United States
Downers Grove Public Library Downers Grove, IL, United States
Oak Park Public Library
Oak Park, IL, United States
Elmwood Park Public Library Elmwood Park, IL, United States
Aurora Public Library District Aurora, IL, United States
Eisenhower Public Library District Harwood Heights, IL, United States
Wheaton Public Library
Wheaton, IL, United States
Addison Public Library
Addison, IL, United States
Skokie Public Library
Skokie, IL, United States
Niles Maine District Library Niles, IL, United States
Wilmette Public Library District WPL
Wilmette, IL, United States
Des Plaines Public Library
Des Plaines, IL, United States
Elk Grove Village Public Library Elk Grove Village, IL, United States
Mount Prospect Public Library Mount Prospect, IL, United States
Midlothian Public Library
Midlothian, IL, United States
Schaumburg Township District Library Schaumburg, IL, United States
Northbrook Public Library
Northbrook, IL, United States
Arlington Heights Memorial Library Arlington Heights, IL, United States
Indian Trails Public Library District Indian Trails Library District, ITPLD, ITLD Wheeling, IL, United States
Deerfield Public Library
Deerfield, IL, United States
Barrington Area Library
Barrington, IL, United States
Algonquin Area Public Library District Algonquin, IL, United States
Galena Public Library District
Galena, IL, United States
Cook Memorial Public Library District Libertyville, IL, United States
Helen Plum Library
Lombard, IL, United States
Glen Ellyn Public Library
Glen Ellyn, IL, United States
Roselle Public Library District
Roselle, IL, United States
Bloomingdale Public Library
Bloomingdale, IL, United States
Ela Area Public Library District Lake Zurich, IL, United States
Round Lake Area Public Library District Round Lake, IL, United States
Warrenville Public Library District Warrenville, IL, United States
Bloomington Public Library
Bloomington, IL, United States
Indiana
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library EVPL
Evansville, IN, United States
Monroe County Public Library Bloomington, IN, United States
Johnson County Public Library Franklin Branch
Franklin, IN, United States
The Indianapolis Public Library Central Library
Indianapolis, IN, United States
Carmel Clay Public Library
Carmel, IN, United States
Allen County Public Library
ACPL
Fort Wayne, IN, United States
Lake County Public Library
Merrillville, IN, United States
Iowa
Ames Public Library
Ames, IA, United States
Iowa City Public Library
Iowa City, IA, United States
NHAIS
NH Automated Information System Concord, NH, United States
Des Moines Public Library
DMPL
Des Moines, IA, United States
Urbandale Public Library
Urbandale, IA, United States
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA, United States
Cedar Falls Public Library
Cedar Falls, IA, United States
Kansas
Johnson County Library
Overland Park, KS, United States
Kansas City, Kansas Public Library Main Library
Kansas City, KS, United States
Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence, KS, United States
Derby Public Library
Derby, KS, United States
Hutchinson Public Library
Hutchinson, KS, United States
Kentucky
Jessamine County Public Library Nicholasville, KY, United States
Kenton County Public Library
Administration
Erlanger, KY, United States
Louisville Free Public Library
Louisville, KY, United States
Louisiana
New Orleans Public Library
New Orleans, LA, United States
East Baton Rouge Parish Library System
Baton Rouge, LA, United States
Maine
University of Southern Maine, Osher Map Library Osher Map Library
Portland, ME, United States
University of Maine at Farmington
Mantor Library
Farmington, ME, United States
Portland Public Library
Portland, ME, United States
Maryland
Southern Maryland Regional Library Association Charlotte Hall, MD, United States
Baltimore County Public Library
Towson, MD, United States
Prince George’s County Memorial Library System – PGCMLS PGCMLS, Administrative Offices
Largo, MD, United States
Montgomery County Public Library, MD
Rockville, MD, United States
Anne Arundel County Public Library AACPL
Annapolis, MD, United States
Cecil County Public Library
lkton, MD, United States
Enoch Pratt Free Library (Baltimore City) Central Library
Baltimore, MD, United States
Massachusetts
Boston Public Library
Boston, MA, United States
C/W Mars
Worcester, MA, United States
Clams, Inc
Hyannis, MA, United States
Minuteman Library Network
Natick, MA, United States
Boston College
Thomas P. O’Neill Library
Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium MVLC
North Andover, MA, United States
Michigan
Southfield Public Library
Southfield, MI, United States
Farmington Community Library Main Library
Farmington Hills, MI, United States
Minnesota
Saint Paul Public Library
Saint Paul, MN, United States
Rochester Public Library
Rochester, MN, United States
Carleton College Library
Laurence McKinley Gould Library Northfield, MN, United States
Washington County Library
Woodbury, MN, United States
Dakota County Library
Eagan, MN, United States
Ramsey County Public Library
Shoreview, MN, United States
Hennepin County Library
Minnetonka, MN, United States
Anoka County Library
Blaine, MN, United States
Great River Regional Library
GRRL
St. Cloud, MN, United States
Plum Creek Library System
Worthington, MN, United States
Missouri
Saint Louis County Library
St Louis, MO, United States
Springfield-Greene County Library District The Library Center
Springfield, MO, United States
Daniel Boone Regional Library
Columbia Public Library; Callaway County Public Library; Southern Boone County Public Library; Holts Summit Public Library
Columbia, MO, United States
Mid-Continent Public Library
Independence, MO, United States
Montana
Billings Public Library
Main Library
Billings, MT, United States
Belgrade Community Library
Belgrade, MT, United States
Nebraska
Omaha Public Library
Omaha, NE, United States
Nevada
Henderson Libraries
Administrative Offices
Henderson, NV, United States
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District=
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
Las Vegas, NV, United States
New Hampshire
NHAIS
NH Automated Information System
Concord, NH, United States
New Jersey
Cape May County Library
Cape May Court House, NJ, United States
Rowan College South Jersey, Cumberland Campus
Vineland, NJ, United States
Camden County Library System
Voorhees, NJ, United States
Somerset County Library
Bridgewater, NJ, United States
Jersey City Free Public Library System
Priscilla Gardner Main Library
Jersey City, NJ, United States
Bergen County Cooperative Library System Consortium BCCLS
Fair Lawn, NJ, United States
Newark Public Library
Newark, NJ, United States
Atlantic County Library System
Mays Landing, NJ, United States
New Mexico
Rio Rancho Public Library
Rio Rancho, NM, United States
Farmington Public Library
Farmington, NM, United States
Santa Fe Public Library
Santa Fe, NM, United States
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System Albuquerque, NM, United States
Alamogordo Public Library
Alamogordo, NM, United States
New York
Brooklyn Public Library
Central Library
Brooklyn, NY, United States
New York Public Library System
NYPL
New York, NY, United States
Queens Public Library
Jamaica, NY, United States
Four County Library System
Vestal, NY, United States
Finger Lakes Library System
Ithaca, NY, United States
Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Central (downtown Buffalo)
Buffalo, NY, United States
Rochester Public Library
Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County Rochester, NY, United States
Onondaga County Public Library
OCPL
Syracuse, NY, United States
Nioga Library System
Lockport, NY, United States
North Carolina
Mooresville Public Library
Mooresville, NC, United States
Durham County Library
Durham, NC, United States
Forsyth County Public Library
Winston-Salem, NC, United States
Wake County Public Libraries
Raleigh, NC, United States
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Charlotte, NC, United States
North Dakota
Fargo Public Library
Fargo, ND, United States
University of North Dakota
Chester Fritz Library
Grand Forks, ND, United States
Bismarck Public Library
Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library Bismarck, ND, United States
Ohio
Stark County District Library
Canton, OH, United States
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library CHPL
Cincinnati, OH, United States
SEO Library Consortium
Caldwell, OH, United States
Cecil County Public Library
Elkton, MD, United States
Southwest Public Libraries
Grove City Library
Grove City, OH, United States
Columbus Metropolitan Library
CML
Columbus, OH, United States
Dayton Metro Library
Dayton, OH, United States
Upper Arlington Public Library
Upper Arlington, OH, United States Worthington Libraries
Worthington, OH, United States
Westerville Public Library
Westerville Library
Westerville, OH, United States
Akron-Summit County Public Library
Akron, OH, United States
Westlake Porter Public Library
Westlake, OH, United States
Avon Lake Public Library
Avon Lake, OH, United States
Muskingum County Library System
Zanesville, OH, United States
Oklahoma
Tulsa City-County Library
Tulsa, OK, United States
Pioneer Library System
PLS
Norman, OK, United States
Metropolitan Library System
Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library
Oklahoma City, OK, United States
Oregon
Deschutes Public Library
Bend, OR, United States
Libraries in Clackamas County
LINCC
Oregon City, OR, United States
Multnomah County Library
Portland, OR, United States
Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service
CCRLS
Salem, OR, United States
Washington County Cooperative Library Services
WCCLS
Hillsboro, OR, United States
Jackson County Library Services
Medford, OR, United States
Eugene Public Library
Eugene, OR, United States
Pennsylvania
Library System of Lancaster County
Lancaster, PA, United States
Dauphin County Library System
Administrative Offices
Harrisburg, PA, United States
Free Library of Philadelphia
Parkway Central Library
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Montgomery County Norristown Public Library
Norristown, PA, United States
Bucks County Free Library
BCFL; Bucks County Library District; Bucks County Library Network; Bucks County Public Libraries;
Doylestown, PA, United States
Centre County Federation of Public Library
State College, PA, United States
Bethlehem Area Public Library
Bethlehem, PA, United States
Erie County Public Library
Erie, PA, United States
Hershey Public Library
Hershey, PA, United States
Cumberland County Library System Mechanicsburg, PA, United States
South Carolina
Charleston County Library
Charleston, SC, United States
Richland County Public Library
Richland Library
Columbia, SC, United States
Tennessee
Nashville Public Library
Main Library
Nashville, TN, United States
Texas
Helen Hall Library
League City, TX, United States
Houston Public Library
Central Library
Houston, TX, United States
Montgomery County Memorial Library System Central Branch – Conroe
CONROE, TX, United States
Longview Public Library
Longview, TX, United States
Waco-McLennan County Library
Waco, TX, United States
Dallas Public Library
Central Library
Dallas, TX, United States
Allen Public Library
Allen, TX, United States
Temple Public Library
Temple, TX, United States
Austin Public Library
Central Library
Austin, TX, United States
Westbank Community Library
Austin, TX, United States
Wilson County Public Libraries Sam Fore Jr. Public Library
Floresville, TX, United States
University of the Incarnate Word J.E. & L.E. Mabee Library
San Antonio, TX, United States
Charlotte Public Library
Charlotte, TX, United States
Wichita Falls Public Library
Wichita Falls, TX, United States
Pflugerville Public Library
Pflugerville, TX, United States
Basil Anthony Moreau Memorial Library Buda, TX, United States
San Antonio Public Library
San Antonio, TX, United States
Utah
Washington County Library System St George, UT, United States
Provo City Library
Provo, UT, United States
Orem Public Library
Orem, UT, United States
Salt Lake County Library Services Whitmore Library
Cottonwood Heights, UT, United States
Salt Lake City Public Library
Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Weber County Library System Roy, UT, United States
Virginia
Roanoke City Public Library
Roanoke, VA, United States
Alexandria Library
Alexandria, VA, United States
Virginia Beach Public Library System Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Henrico County Public Library
Henrico, VA, United States
Fairfax County Public Library
Chantilly, VA, United States
Loudoun County Public Library Library Administration
Leesburg, VA, United States
Central Rappahannock Regional Library Fredericksburg, VA, United States
Washington
Pierce County Library System
Tacoma, WA, United States
Richland Public Library
Richland, WA, United States
King County Library System
Service Center, Administrative Offices
Issaquah, WA, United States
Tacoma Public Library
Main Branch
Tacoma, WA, United States
Seattle Public Library
Central Library
Seattle, WA, United States
Sno-Isle Libraries
Administrative & Service Center
Marysville, WA, United States
Timberland Regional Library
TRL
Tumwater, WA, United States
Mount Vernon City Library
Mount Vernon, WA, United States
Burlington Public Library
Burlington, WA, United States
Spokane County Library District
Spokane, WA, United States
San Juan Island Library District
Friday Harbor, WA, United States
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Vancouver, WA, United States
Washington DC
District of Columbia Public Library Washington, DC, United States
Wisconsin
Milwaukee Public Library
Milwaukee County Federated Library System
Milwaukee, WI, United States
(LINKcat) South Central Library System Madison, WI, United States
Monarch Library System
Sheboygan, WI, United States
Winnefox Library System
Oshkosh, WI, United States
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh UW Oshkosh Libraries
Oshkosh, WI, United States
InfoSoup
Northeast Wisconsin Public Libraries Appleton, WI, United States
Brown County Library
Green Bay, WI, United States
Superiorland Library Cooperative Marquette, MI, United States
Wyoming
Laramie County Library System Cheyenne, WY, United States
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