Naya fled her war-torn home in the middle of the night, with time to grab only one thing: her doll, Hadiah. Now, in a new country and far from Baba, Hadiah helps Naya hold on to her memories through the fear and confusion of starting again.

Then Christmas approaches, and Naya’s friends talk about a man who watches children and breaks into houses while they sleep. Naya keeps her worry secret so Mama won’t be upset. But on Christmas Eve, a shadow appears in the hallway, and she must decide whether to run away or be brave.

A tender, gently funny story about belonging, courage, and the gifts we least expect. The story was informed by a family member’s work with refugee families, and by a real child’s fear of Santa.

Details:
Picture book | Ages 5 to 8 | approx 440 words

Themes: Displacement and belonging | Family and reunion | Facing your fears | Misunderstanding a new culture’s traditions

Status:
Complete and available for publication. This is a text-only submission. The illustrations shown are concept art by Roya Halavati.
Naya means “brightness or light,” Hadiah means “gift,” and Baba means “daddy.”