Forest artwork with bunny and owl

About the Author

Omar Zia was an inspiring educator, high school principal, human rights activist, and community leader in Ontario, Canada. He was passionate about educating parents and providing them with insights on how to best meet the needs of the 21st-century child. The Deen Street Kids series is based on Omar's real-life experiences as he worked with students and their families to cultivate an atmosphere of strength, connection, and engagement.
The Deen Street Kids series exemplifies the positive parenting practices that make living Islam easy from the beginning of a child’s life. When a family is built on a solid foundation, children are able to return to a household that consistently uplifts and supports them throughout the growing pains of life.
Omar's work is extensive and timeless. These books allow his words to continue to uplift not just Muslim youth, but all children of the world, even after his passing, Insha'Allah (God-Willing).

Omar Zia

B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed., OCT

About the Illustrator

Elena Yalcin is an oil artist, but after leaving the city to start a family, she jumped into illustration as a full-time career! Elena discovered her love of painting when she was a young child and attended an art studio in Russia for eight years.
In 2010, she immigrated to Canada and began painting again. Her illustrations are whimsical, full of bright, vivid colours and movement, and she enjoys adding small details to her art. These details encourage viewers to look at the pictures more and more, making new discoveries each time. She is happily married with two children.
Children studying on the grass field