ABDULLAH'S BEAR NEEDS A NAME!

When a young Muslim boy receives a well-loved teddy bear for Eid, he’s encouraged to discover for himself what its name is.

Abdullah carefully unwraps his parents’ gift and discovers a plush bear softened by years of love—it’s his father’s childhood toy. Ecstatic, he asks what its name is. “Why don’t you guess?” says Abba. “You’ll know in your heart when you’ve found the right one.” Over the next week, Abdullah takes his toy everywhere, trying on many different names. He considers his classmates’ names, like Katie or Anna, and old names he sees on museum exhibits, such as Archibald, but none seem to fit. Still, Abdullah’s sure that the bear has a name. After hearing a bedtime story about Abba’s Pakistani grandfather, he drifts off to sleep while looking at a family picture. Suddenly, it hits him. Maybe his bear has a name like his! Inspired by Hanif’s experiences growing up with a lack of Pakistani Muslim representation in literature, as well as her time spent working with South Asian children in Glasgow, this tale emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s cultures and traditions through the power of names. Benmouyal’s blend of hand-drawn textures with a digital finish, dominated by hues of blue, green, gold, and red, convey Abdullah’s love for his new toy with expressive facial features and gestures. A short glossary of unfamiliar words supports comprehension without disrupting the flow of the story.

A charming and important entry encouraging the joyous celebration of cultural heritage.