Omar Abed writes children’s books, poetry, and computer code. While studying computer engineering in college, Omar turned to spoken-word poetry as a creative outlet for self-expression. His passion for rhyme and rhythm set him on an unplanned path to writing picture books. He self-published his first book, You, Me, and a Tree, in order to learn more about the publishing process and industry. The next year, he sold his traditional debut The Book That Almost Rhymed to Penguin Random House. His upcoming picture book, Debug This Book, was acquired by Simon & Schuster.
Omar’s stories offer something for readers of all ages. While children laugh out loud at the high stakes absurdity, adults appreciate the unconventional premises and intelligence layered beneath the surface.
In his spare time, Omar is probably playing with his son, watching movies with his wife, or hacking away at some passion project. Omar is Palestinian-American and lives in Northern Virginia with his family.
“Omar, Thank you again for coming to our school. We all had a wonderful time. The whole school is still buzzing about how great and interactive it was! [The class was] so excited about it and loved this project so much. They especially loved the story!” — Clermont Elementary School, 2024
