With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab — a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong — with a little help from her big sister's example.
Paired with Hatem Aly's beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali bring readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.
"When a playground bully, portrayed by Aly (the Unicorn Rescue Society series) as a smudgy silhouette, taunts Asiya ('I’m going to pull that tablecloth off your head!'), Faizah fumes, glaring at the child and looking for 'whispers, laughs, and shouts.' But when she sees how Asiya and her diverse friends, who share an easygoing confidence, dismiss the bully and get on with their fun, her sense of what’s 'regular' is both restored and expanded." — Publishers Weekly
"Faizah triumphs over the misunderstandings and bullying she witnesses, her pride in her sister still intact. This sensitive representation of family relationships that provide a loving coat of armor against the world’s difficulties is memorable and inspiring." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 4 - 8 |
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Author | Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali |
Illustrator | Hatem Aly |
ISBN | 0316519006 |
Publication Date | Sep 10, 2019 |
Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
Language | English |