Like You and Me - Paperback

by Shahnaz Qayumi (Author), Shavon Cheng (Illustrator)

I will never forget that day. I was nine years old when a lady asked me, "Are you "Pashtun" or "Tajik"? Pashtuns and Tajiks are the predominant ethnic groups in Afghanistan and yet I did not know which group I belonged to so I answered, Afghan " I was puzzled with this strange question and, not knowing the concept of ethnicity, I rushed home to clarify this issue. I questioned my mother, "Am I Pashtun or Tajik?" My mother demanded that I tell her what my response was to the lady who asked me the question about my ethnicity. Afghan I repeated my answer to my mother. My mother peered deep into my curious eyes that were waiting for the right answer and responded, "You are absolutely right, you are an Afghan and nothing else". This was an important lesson because it showed me at an early age that ethnicity does not determine who we are. Underneath all our beautiful diverse attributes we should be equally respected for being human. My book, "Like You and Me", is a place for children to explore and celebrate the vast diversity in our world. As an early childhood educator and a parent, I believe that we play a significant role in developing a sense of acceptance, appreciation, and love in our children. The earlier children are exposed to diversity in a positive light the more it will help our children admire the beauty in every culture. Children are not born to be prejudiced; I've known this since I was nine years old.

Author Biography

Shahnaz Qayumi graduated from the Gorky Pedagogical Institute in Kiev Ukraine with a Bachelors and Masters in Early Childhood Education in 1980. She returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, her birth country, to teach as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Education in the Department of Psychology in Kabul University. Due to the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, she was forced to flee with her family in 1982 and after spending one year as a refugee she finally immigrated to Canada.

After the evaluation of her credentials by the University of British Columbia, she began teaching Early Childhood Education at the False Creek Day Care Society. Soon she seguedinto teaching Early Childhood Education atthe Canadian Center for Educational Development to ESL students. From 1994 to 2002 she became a faculty member in the department of Early Childhood Education at Kwantlen University College. After, shethought Early Childhood Education in other collegessuch as: Langley Continuing Education; North Delta Continuing Education; Century College; Native Education College. Shehas also facilitated an ECE program for Family Empowerment funded by Ministry of Health in North Delta for low-income families. In this capacityshe observed children at preschools and consultedwith families to provide guidance with respect to the whole child development. Shehas also been a member of the Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Awareness committee at the Kwantlen University College, and a member of Vancouver Women's Visible Minority. She is a member of Partnership of Afghanistan - Canada a Non-Governmental Organization. Currently, she is the producer of Ariana TV, a local Afghan language channel on OMNI Television. She also writes and directs segments for Children (Story Circle) and Family (Ages & Stages). She truly enjoys early childhood education and most of all is fascinated with the beauty of the diversity in world culture.