DEARBORN – The Arab American National Museum will hold a book signing and story time event to celebrate the release of Michigan author Shayma Mustafa’s book, “Excuse me Ma’am, Excuse Me Sir: I’m Amina, an All-American Girl”, on July 1.

Mustafa is a teacher, mother of five children and a self-declared bibliophile. She said the lack of characters and themes in children’s books that were representative of her own American Muslim children inspired her to write the book. She hopes the book will be used as a platform to engage the public in conversations about what it looks like to be both Muslim and American and to acknowledge Muslims’ place within the fold of American society. 

The book includes vivid and colorful illustrations of Amina on her adventure through different states. It highlights America’s beauty and embraces its many scenic features. It shows that like every state is one-of-a kind, so is every American, including Amina. The book teaches diversity, inclusion, geography, social acceptance, and much more.

“Muslims have come here for generations to take part in the American dream and be part of American society,” Mustafa said. “For those of us who hold citizenship that was gained through immigration and those of us who were born here or had children who were born here, teaching them the notion that we are American is vital.”