11 Things About Me:
- I doodle. All the time. Doodling helps me make sense of the world around me.
- I used to only wear the color blue.
- I have a scar from a hockey stick underneath my left eye.
- Outside my house in Abu Dhabi used to be a coconut tree.
- I eat apples from the bottom creating a flower shaped pattern.
- I have three brothers and always thought I would have sons. Instead, I have three daughters.
- I used to drink milk three times a day.
- I would rather make play dough than cook dinner.
- I trust clear shampoos and don’t like it when my shampoo is opaque.
- I am like a plant. I crave sunlight.
- My favorite age as a child was being 9 years old.
—Want to know more?
When I doodle, whether it be swirls or figurines, I am transformed to a world in which my doodles live, and my thoughts become clear. Similarly, when I take a break from the world around me, and take photos, my mind breathes. Through my art medium of Photos, Pencils, Paint, and Potting soil, I thrive. I am a doodler and writer any chance I get, a seasonal photographer, and a Stay-At-Home-Mom during the week to school aged girls Z, A, and baby H. I am also a teacher and have taught second grade for four years, but am taking a break to mother and explore my creative outlet via the aforementioned 4 P’s.
You may know me as the author of Lailah’s Lunchbox. I started out this blog as a Stay-At-Home-Mom, but I’ve sort of morphed into a Work-and-Play-Whenever-I-Can-At-Home-Mom lately. My book Lailah’s Lunchbox was published in May 2015 with Tilbury House Publishing. I have 3 new books projected for 2021: my debut middle grade book “Unsettled” (HarperCollins 2021), Amira’s Picture Day (Holiday House, 2021) and I Can Help (Eerdmans, 2021).
You can sometimes find me in an Atlanta park behind my camera since I’m a seasonal children-family-lifestyle photographer at ReemFaruqi Photography or mostly typing out stories in my favorite matching pajamas (the floral ones my grandmother made me!) at random hours. I also work with the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta as a Scheduler and Communications Director. This photoblog is my stepping stone to making my dreams a reality, my happiest dream being my children’s books getting published! Thank you for stopping by!
How to Contact Me:
If you want to send me a message, rather than commenting on the blog, please email me at ReemFaruqi@gmail.com. Or if you would like to talk to me about an author visit, writing or photography opportunities too, please do let me know at the same email address above. I love hearing from you and replying promptly — feel free to nudge if I don’t respond! Also, click here to hear how my name is pronounced.
Instagram @ReemFaruqi
Twitter @ReemFaruqi
Snail Mail:
I love receiving letters from students! Please email me if you want to set up a snail mail correspondence! I am also available to Skype with classrooms so please do get in touch.
Professional Bio:
When Reem Faruqi taught second grade, her favorite time was “Read Aloud” time. Now, her favorite time at home is reading with her daughters. Of Pakistani origin, she moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, when she was 13 years old. Reem based her first award-winning children’s book “Lailah’s Lunchbox” on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. She has three new books projected for 2021, her debut middle grade book “Unsettled” (HarperCollins 2021), and two picture books: “Amira’s Picture Day”(Holiday House 2021) and “I Can Help.” (Eerdmans 2021). She also has a new non-fiction picture book based on her grandmother Milloo’s Mind (HarperCollins 2023). Reem seasonally works as a photographer at ReemFaruqi Photography and currently works as a Scheduler for the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta. She loves to doodle, write, and take photos at http://www.ReemFaruqi.com. Currently, she lives with her husband and three daughters in Atlanta.
When I’m writing or on-the-go, I opt for glasses and look like the person on the left!
P.S. If you want to take a peek inside my home, click here! My home may have a smattering of lunchboxes on the counters mixed with yesterday’s mail and today’s cracker crumbs, but I try to keep this online home organized and crisp. I really hope my words and photos here refresh you and give you a break from whatever it is you’re working on. Get to know me by staying a while and click around!
P.P.S. If you are from the media and need my press kit or my images to download in hi-res, please click here.
How delightful…I paint and doodle too…but not as creatively as you…all the very best in all your endeavors…keep doodling and dreaming!
Thanks :)! Best of luck to you too :)!
Your blog is beautiful to look at. Makes me think of how I can improve mine. Thank you!
Thank you :)! We can all learn from each other :). I’ m just starting out!
Love your blog Reemy. Post more often na. And about other things too. Haha. Miss you.
Thanks sunny d, will try to be sophisticated 🙂
Make a baking blog!!
Reeemyyyyyy!!!! I love how you’re so creative Masha’Allah Masha’Allah 🙂 I miss you man- soo tired of the books at the moment- biochem is killing.
thanks Amenie! miss you
This is great! Really good for you too!
Reemy! So SUPER proud of you, masha Allah! Very nice work indeed : ) Keep at it, Reemy!
Thanks slmy!!! You always do great mA!
Wonderful blog indeed.
Thanks! I’m happy you liked it 🙂 Keep reading when you can 🙂
I’d love to. Thanks for liking my post, but now I blog on thedayisgreen.wordpress.com, so please visit that. 🙂
Ok will make sure to visit :)!
Thanks 🙂
Hey Reemy, I nominated you for the “Liebster Blog” Award. Congratulations! Please refer to my latest post on the subject. Keep up the good work!
Hey! I’ve nominated you for The Versatile Blogger award!
http://mummasays.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/703/
Thanks :)!!
Is that a pic of you? ur good photographer by the way, nice pic quality 🙂
yes it’s me :)!
nice…salaam 🙂
Thanks!:)
Love your doodles. Gorgeous picture, mashaAllah! Congrats again on the book!
Assalamoalikum Reem,
Wow! MashaALLAH well done keep it up!
Best wishes,
Mussarat and Munifa
wsalam, THANK YOU :). Miss you all!!!
Came here from searching for muslim children book. Great reviews of those books, I start ordering the first two books you reviewed….until I found out that you’ve reviewed more books and even written your own books 😀 . Will check them later.. Thanks and cheers from Australia 🙂
Thanks for visiting! Yes, I reviewed many books before I had the courage to attempt my own :). Reviewing the books gave me insight on the children’s book industry.
Love you and your story!
Thank you for your kind words!:) I appreciate it!
❤️
So inspired by your book
Thanks so much!! Appreciate it.
Hi! I just read Lailah’s Lunchbox to my fourth graders (I’m a speech therapist here in Fayette County)!! I was so surprised when I saw the Peachtree City shout-out. We enjoyed the story and I thoroughly enjoying sharing Ramadan with my students.
Hi Andrea! I’m so glad! My parents still live in Peachtree City! Thank you for reading my book to them!