Amina Banana

Amina loves bananas, science, and all things yellow! Her family recently arrived from Syria to Indiana, and she's starting at a brand-new school in a brand-new country. She’s excited but also nervous, especially about making friends! But she develops the perfect formula to get everything just right: Speak English + wear a perfect outfit + be a good student + eat American food = Make American Friends! When the first few days are harder than Amina imagined, she’s left worrying: why doesn't her formula add up?

Amina Banana's third grade class is abuzz with excitement for the upcoming spelling bee. But spelling in English is tough for Amina. Still, she’s going to prove to her classmates that even if English is an additional language for her, she can take home the gold medal. If only the formula for winning wasn't so complicated! Amina is determined to win, but with a formula that long, how will Amina be able to study, keep up with tasks at home and stay true to her friends—who are also her biggest competition at the bee?

When Amina's family hits hard times, and her dad has been gone working more, she is determined to help her family out. Using her math skills, she develops a new formula. Find a way to make groceries cheaper? + make money (how) + what else? = us being happy. From clipping coupons to selling zaatar sandwiches and more—will her formula to make money work?