Oni Press Will Make You Holler For ‘Yalla!’ With New Arabic Graphic Novel

And you ready to holler for Yalla!? No, I couldn’t come up with a better rhyme, leave me alone. The new middle grade Arabic graphic novel will hit stores next year.

Coming from writer Ameen D.B. and artist Ismael Hernández, the book will put “readers in an immigrant’s shoes to teach literacy and empathy in unique ways.”

“Ahlan wa sahlan and welcome everyone to the magical world of Yalla!—a graphic novel for early readers that teaches literacy and empathy in new ways,” said writer Ameen D.B. via press release “Across four stories, we experience a strange new world like an immigrant, like ten-year-old Pada . . . all without the help of any subtitles! But don’t be scared—through context clues, we arrive at understanding alongside Pada and her gang of friends. So strap on your boots, tighten your swimsuits, and come with Pada as we explore her new home together. Yalla!”

Added Hernández, “Yalla! is a love letter for childhood inside us, despite living in a harsh adult world. And it’s also about hope for the power of kind words . . . even if you don’t understand them at first!”

Yalla! hits stores on June 9, 2027. Check out the cover and preview below, as well as synopsis:

Welcome to Yalla!, the story of Pada, who recently immigrated to a strange new place with her parents and little brother. Join Pada on her epic adventures, all while learning a new language, making friends, and fighting . . . monsters?! Pada feels out of place in her unfamiliar home, surrounded by people and places she doesn’t understand. She tries to make the best of her new home but trials await at every turn. When she encounters a monstrous bird, a hungry troll, a no-face fisherman, and (most fearsome of all) a three-hundred-foot mythical lizard monster, Pada will have to do everything she can to protect those around her and make it home safely. Told in four parts, Yalla! is an Arabic graphic novel for English readers. While the book is not in English—fear not! By joining along with Pada, readers will encounter a new place and language, all while learning a new Arabic word or phrase in each chapter.

Yalla!

Writer: Ameen D.b.

Artist: Ismael Hernández

Cover: Ismael Hernández

On Sale: 6/9/2027

$16.99 | 288 pgs. | FC

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