More great awards news! Dinara Mirtalipova‘s illustrations for Leila in Saffron were accepted into The Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. The exhibition, The Original Art: Celebrating the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration, opens tonight – Thursday, November 14th, 6-9pm – at the Society of Illustrators (128 E. 63rd St.) in New York City.

Leila in Saffron, published by Zareen Jaffery’s new Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing imprint Salaam Reads, is the story of a shy young girl who discovers all the things that make her special. Dinara’s illustrations capture both the gentle tenderness of the love between a girl and her grandmother, and the exuberant colors, patterns and energy of their rich culture. Written by Rukhsanna Guidroz, Leila in Saffron was released in June 2019.

For: The Original Art Show, Society of Illustrators

Great news from Dinara Mirtalipova – Salaam Reads, a Muslim children’s book imprint from Simon & Schuster, has purchased the rights to Rukhsanna Guidroz's Leila in Saffron, illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova.

From Publisher's Weekly: "Zareen Jaffery at S&S/Salaam Reads has acquired world rights to Rukhsanna Guidroz's (l.) Leila in Saffron, illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova. The picture book follows a Pakistani-American girl named Leila who uses her senses of sight, smell, taste, and touch to cook a family meal with her grandmother and delight in the various items in her grandmother's home that speak to Leila's unique identity. Publication is slated for summer 2019; Wendi Gu at Janklow & Nesbit represented the author while at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and Chrystal Falcioni at Magnet Arts Collective represented the illustrator."

For: Salaam Reads, Simon & Schuster