Mariam's Dream follows real-life freedom dreamer Mariam Al-Shaar, known around the world for building Soufra, a women-run kitchen in the Bourj Al-Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon.

Leila Boukarim spends her time writing stories that inspire empathy and encourage meaningful discussions. She has written ten books for children, including Lost Words. When she heard about Mariam Al-Shaar and Soufra in 2018, she knew she had to meet her and write her story. Leila was born in Lebanon and raised in several countries. She now lives in Berlin, Germany, with her husband, her two kids, and her cat/office mate, Dill. You can visit her at leilaboukarim.com.

Sona Avedikian is an Armenian illustrator born in Beirut, Lebanon, and currently based in Michigan. She loves creating vibrant work and often takes inspiration from her heritage, as she did for Lost Words. You can find more of her work at sonaavedikian.com.