M.O. Yuksel is the award-winning author of several picture books, including, IN MY MOSQUE, ONE WISH: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University, RAMADAN KAREEM, and SAMI’S SPECIAL GIFT: An Eid al-Adha Story. She has served as a juror for the NSK Neustadt Prize and was a founding committee and faculty member for the Muslim Storytellers Fellowship at the Highlights Foundation.
Her books have received starred reviews from major publications such as School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist, and garnered numerous awards, including those from the American Library Association, School Library Journal, and Junior Library Guild. Yuksel’s work celebrates diversity and offers insight into Muslim traditions that resonate with readers of all ages.
When not writing, she’s usually on the soccer field cheering for her kids, or traveling to exotic places, and immersing herself in the local culture.
Yuksel’s upcoming picture book biography, The Prince of Stars: Ulugh Beg’s Quest to Map the Stars and Seasons, is set to release May 2025.
Blog Posts by M.O. Yuksel:
- Interview: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/2024/02/21/celebrating-ramadan-kareems-book-birthday-with-m-o-yuksel-and-hatem-aly/
- Podcast: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/2023/06/21/podcast-m-o-yuksel-and-hatem-aly/
- Muslim Storyteller Fellowship Committee Member and Mentor: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/m-o-yuksel/
- Art Installation: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/2023/08/08/art-installation-celebrates-muslim-voices-a-highlights-foundation-scholarship-recipient-and-a-growing-community-of-storytellers/
