An important and timely narrative of inclusivity and acceptance.
A Muslim child encounters Islamophobia.
Brown-skinned Salma notices that when a news reporter on TV uses the word Muslim, “her eyebrows go down and her mouth frowns.” Gentle, caring Salma wishes that people understood that Islam is a peaceful religion—even the name Salma means peace. When Salma’s best friend is absent one day, the child is mocked by a white-presenting classmate named Luke, though in front of their classmates and teachers, he pretends to be deeply opposed to bullying. Luke’s taunt of “Muzzlim” and his assertion that he knows “all about Muzzlims from TV” prompt Salma to take a stand and reveal all to their teacher. Later, Luke attempts to brush his bullying under the rug, but Salma powerfully rebuffs him, holding him accountable for his actions. Their interaction comes full circle when Luke feels lonely at lunch one day when his best friend is absent, but Salma treats him with empathy and kindness. With soothing colors and rounded shapes, Bushry’s cartoon images pair well with this gentle tale of self-advocacy. Endpapers and spreads include illustrated photos of Salma’s family, showcasing everyday moments of joy. Backmatter includes an author’s note, in which Faruqi discusses how this story is rooted in her response to Donald Trump’s 2017 Muslim ban, an illustrator’s note in which Bushry emphasizes that misinformation can lead to discrimination, and anti-bullying resources.
An important and timely narrative of inclusivity and acceptance. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9780063206182
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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