Templar Books MY NAME IS A GIFT.

by Zeshan Akhter

MY NAME IS A GIFT ABISBOOK Templar Books.

Genres: Picture Books

Paperback

Reviews

[Kirin]

This universal book about the beauty of one's name, the love it carries, and the importance of others saying it correctly focuses on a desi family, and a little girl named Sitara. The concept isn't particularly unique, but the full page illustrations are delightful and bring the text to life. There is nothing religious in this 32 page picture book for preschool to early elementary aged children, save a few dupatta clad women in photographs the characters look at. I had to Google if the author identifies as Muslim, and I think she does. The name Sitara, means "shine like a star" and the positive framing of names being a gift, will inspire conversations about names, be a source of pride for one's own name, and hopefully make us all more mindful in saying other's names as they wish them to be said.

[Nicole Miller]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

What a lovely book. I love that everyone is kind in this book, from the parents and Sitara teach other people how to say her name to the kids and adults trying to learn how to say it correctly. The illustrations are beautiful and diverse and there is a great little activity at the end for kids to embrace and learn about their own name. Overall, a really great book on how to be polite when you are unsure how to pronounce someone’s name and one of the little ways to show kindness to each other.

[Helen Ishmurzin]

Such a beautiful, heartwarming book!