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 sons, 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 was an amazing presenter. He reached the littles with his story, the school age kids with writing their own story, and the grown ups in the audience with talk about his writing and publishing process. I love Omar’s storytelling!” — York County Public Library, 2025