My mother died when I was 4. During her last months, knowing she was dying, she knit jackets for my father and me. They are the only things from her I own. Today I gave them to my son and grandson. Somewhere I know she’s smiling.

Thanks so much :)

🤲🏽❤️

« A person is weighed by their speech, and valued by their action,» Ali is told by a teacher in the novel Call Me Al by Wali Shah & Eric Walters. This Forest of Reading nominee is a compelling story of a young immigrant grappling with parental expectations and racism at school.

It’s become a favourite in classrooms for the way it dives into themes of identity, self-discovery, and friendship. #ForestOfReading Red Maple Nominated title Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters is the newest Teachers on Call feature. Check it out! teachersoncall.ca/site/toronto-t…

It's #ForestFriday! A new set of Forest of Reading virtual author visits is being released today for program participants, including "Call Me Al" (Red Maple) by Wali Shah & Eric Walters, moderated by me! Check out this session with two amazing Canadian creators! OLA

All TDSB schools and sites are closed today due to the weather forecast. In addition, Friday, February 14, is PA Day for all students, and Monday, February 17, is Family Day. Enjoy your first #SnowDay of the year, and we'll see you on Tuesday!

🚀 Just launched: The Canadian Guide to Understanding and Combatting Islamophobia: For a more inclusive Canada. 🍁 This resource is now available for anyone looking to better understand Islamophobia and its detrimental impacts on Canadian Muslims. It contains information to

Ramadan Mubarak my brothers & sisters. This month comes at a time where I feel truly at peace for the first time in my life. I was blessed enough with two years of morning prayer, and a trip of a lifetime, to Mecca & Medina, to start Ramadan. I stood at the Kaaba and felt my old

For Ramadan this year, I’m bringing Mom back for another season of our little show together! Here’s episode one. Reading Puns to Mom 😂

Surprising Mom with my first batch of books! Call Me Al is available across bookstores and public libraries across Canada! 🤲🏽

Grateful for another beautiful humanitarian trip to Africa. So many wonderful moments. We are so blessed to have the lives we do here at home.

May Ramadan teach us to give, And teach us self-control. Food is nourishment for the body. Feeding others is nourishment for the soul. - pg 233, from my book, Call Me Al, with Eric Walters

Eid Mubarak fam 🤲🏽 May Allah bless us with seeing another Ramadan, and peace in our world 🤲🏽

Back here to say we are thrilled to have 5 sign carriers at the Forest of Reading Red Maple awards this year! Students are so excited and can’t wait for May! Wali Shah Eric Walters Deborah Ellis #heathersmith #gisellevriesen #wandajohnkihewin 📚🇨🇦🤗

Happy Easter to all my Christian friends 🙏🏽

Despite all the challenges the last year and a half have presented, you have remained strong and resilient. You inspire me everyday. Happy Mother’s Day, Mama ❤️

Eid Mubarak and Free Palestine.

Happy Father’s Day. For all of you whose fathers are in your lives, alive and well: do not take a single moment for granted. It’s been well over a year and a half, and my father is yet to be able to speak or to move his body apart from his eyes or his head. Sometimes he

An important meeting with Special Representative Amira Elghawaby. Canada’s new government is fighting the rise in Islamophobia and hate — with constructive conversations and new measures to end the violence, vandalism, and intimidation that threaten our communities.