Alya Hameed

When she isn't editing, chasing her toddler around the house, or experimenting with recipes, Alya is usually submerged in a book. She holds an M.A. in Children's Literature from SDSU; she's also held a quidditch match before—her skills are clearly wide and varied. These days, she's lucky to be able to write in tiny pockets of time. Find her on Twitter: @SimplyAlya.

16 of the Best Islamic Books for Kids

Whether you’re Muslim or not, this list of 16 of the best Islamic books for kids (with recommended age ranges) is definitely worth checking out. 

What I Learned When I Tried to Get My Mom to Read

I had a chance to get my mom back into reading and I failed, giving me a chance to reflect on what reading means to me and what I hope it can be for her.

5 Pop-Up Books that Stick Out as Great Gifts

The pop-up book is an under-appreciated engineering feat of imagination. Here is a list of pop-up books that would make excellent gifts.

13 Bookish Ways to Spend the Holidays if You Don’t Celebrate Them

Holiday traditions can be extremely fun to come up with even if you don't celebrate the holidays themselves. Here are bookish ways to spend the holidays.

The Perils of Having a Toddler Who Adores Reading

Spooky October Reading That Won’t Scare You (Too Much)

When you want to enjoy the chilling Halloween season without the zombies, bloody murders, or fright fests, try one of these spooky books for October.

Kid Lit Authors Want Everyone to Take Action for the Upcoming Elections

YA authors are pledging to take 28 days of action to get involved in the midterm elections that affect them, therefore motivating fans to do the same.

Food and Fiction for Diverse Tastebuds

Why do we delight so much in the food descriptions in books? For this author, it's about the connection between culture, identity, and home.

How I Managed to Read During My First Year as a Mom

5 Times Harry Potter Was a Slytherin

Here's a short list of moments when Harry Potter was a Slytherin--or rather, behaved like the Slytherin that he could have been.