YOU ARE NOT ALONE
(Kaligaa Ma Tihid)
By Habiba Mohamed
Illustrated by Victoria Medi
This past weekend marked the 8th annual Minnesota Black Authors Expo and this year’s theme Bringing Black Books to Life. The kickoff event was held at the Minneapolis Central Library in downtown Minneapolis, and it was amazing. Authors representing a variety of genres, the powerful Writers Bootcamp, a workshop for teens and a wonderful Kids’ Corner. And let us not forget the awesome Joe Davis as he brought to the attendees “From the Page to the Stage.” For those of you who missed this event, there are three more scheduled for 2025, so stay tuned.
With that being said, it is my pleasure to bring to you one of the authors from the event: Habiba Mohamed and her children’s book You Are Not Alone.
Mohamed’s multicultural and bilingual book speaks to children, letting them know, as stated in the title, that they aren’t alone, especially if they feel different, isolated, or for some reason not accepted. Children can feel alone in such areas as their moods, health, school, or tough times. However, Mohamed, with the collaboration of Victoria Medi, illustrates that others feel or have felt the same way, and there is love, support, and people who care all around them.
When it comes to the affirming support, this can take the form of family, teachers, friends, neighbors, and the larger community, people who, according to Mohamed, “believe in their dreams.” This is a book that touches hearts, as it did mine.
With a master’s degree in educational leadership and a background of early childhood teaching, Mohamed serves as the Director of Clinical Operations within an Applied Behavioral Analysis program. She speaks from empowerment for children, and I acknowledge her gifts, which have indeed made room for her.
You Are Not Alone (Kaligaa Ma Tihid) is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Diverse Voices Press, the Minnesota Black Authors Expo website (www.mnblackauthorsexpo.com), and her website (authorhabiba.com)
Thank you, Habiba, for your voice of encouragement, comfort, empowerment, and affirmation of all children to be their authentic selves.
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
