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The Proudest Blue
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A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.
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 ...more
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 ...more
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Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
September 10th 2019
by Little Brown Books
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My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. This is book #18 (of 20) of 2019, and we liked it. It was written By Olympic medalist, social activist (and hijab-wearing!) athlete Ibtihaj Muhammed with the help of (writer) She. K. Ali, illustrated by Hetem Aly. Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.
Hank (13): 3. I like the art.
Harry (14): 3. Wait, what's with all the counting (steps, and so on) and numbers in this book?! This book is really ...more
Hank (13): 3. I like the art.
Harry (14): 3. Wait, what's with all the counting (steps, and so on) and numbers in this book?! This book is really ...more
It is the first day of school and Faizah is excited. Most of all, she is excited because it is the first day of school in which her sister Asiya is going to wear her blue hijab. Faizah thinks her sister looks like a most beautiful princess and does not understand why others at school do not see it in the same way. As she deals with the bullies, Faizah learns to truly appreciate the beauty of the hijab.
Another great children's book with a most important message. Faizah admires her older sister ...more
Another great children's book with a most important message. Faizah admires her older sister ...more
This book is GORGEOUS! Empowering and celebratory of Muslim girls who are hijabis, and their families. The type of book that will help kids feel seen, and help other kids become more understanding. This is an important book that should be on all the shelves.
A beautiful book! It’s a true window & mirrors book; readers will see themselves and others will learn about the Muslim faith.
What a wonderful story about rites of passage, the bonds of sisters, overcoming classmate cruelty and taunts, and the importance of faith to a young girl. Little sisters look up to older sisters usually and for Faizah watching her sister buy her first hijab and wear it to school on the first day is a special moment. Aly's illustrations are beautiful as they bring to life the ocean/sky blue color that Asiya selects for her hijab. The anonymous way in which the bullies are portrayed is powerful as
...more
"If you understand who you are, one day they will too."
I almost cried tears of blue like Faizah's Hijab. This story of a younger sister Asiya worried about her older sister being bullied for wearing Hijab to school for the first time is so sweet I wanted the book to continue forever. Read it.
I almost cried tears of blue like Faizah's Hijab. This story of a younger sister Asiya worried about her older sister being bullied for wearing Hijab to school for the first time is so sweet I wanted the book to continue forever. Read it.
Oct 03, 2019
KC
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
childrens,
sibling,
bullying,
coming-of-age,
cultural,
diversity,
empowerment,
acceptance,
girl-power,
picture-book
There are so many things I loved about this book. Authored by a former Olympic medalist, the stunning illustrations, especially the faceless bullies, and the message.
A beautiful #ownvoice story about a girl who wears hijab to school for the first time and her adoring little sister. There are bullies, but the girls' faith keeps them strong.
This book was so beautiful! I sobbed while reading it. I loved the relationship between the sisters. Faziah was so proud of her older sister on her first day of wearing hijab, referring to Asiya as a princess. The other students whispered about Asiya and teased her for wearing a hijab. Faziah was upset by the students' words, but remembered some of her mother's sage wisdom. "Don't carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They only belong to those who
...more
Such a lovely read!
A book about two Muslim sisters who celebrate pride in their faith by wearing hijab, and also about the cruel remarks bullies can make, and how personal, emotional strength can overcome those remarks. As Asiya and Faizah's mother says, "Don't carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They belong only to those who said them." This valuable story will encourage young readers to try to understand and celebrate differences and to take strength in faith,
...more
Goodreads Choice Awards Project: Read as many of the Best Picture Book nominees as possible. 4 to go!
Again, nice sentiments and art, like fellow nominee Sulwe that I just read, but I really feel odd about any religion that tells people how to dress in their daily life (and I'm looking at you Mormon underwear, Amish hats, Roman Catholic school uniforms, Jewish yarmulkes, etc.), especially considering that in the Garden of Eden story clothing seems to be a human construct whereas God apparently ...more
Again, nice sentiments and art, like fellow nominee Sulwe that I just read, but I really feel odd about any religion that tells people how to dress in their daily life (and I'm looking at you Mormon underwear, Amish hats, Roman Catholic school uniforms, Jewish yarmulkes, etc.), especially considering that in the Garden of Eden story clothing seems to be a human construct whereas God apparently ...more
Such a gorgeous cover and illustrations, with an amazing story to go along with it!
Nov 15, 2019
Julie Esanu
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
family,
culture,
back-matter,
first-day-of-school,
girl-power,
self-expression,
self-acceptance,
identity,
empowerment,
islam
Embracing identity and completely empowering: "Don't carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They belong only to those who said them." When sharing, don't overlook the powerful Authors' Notes.
Love love LOVE this book! The illustrations are adorable and just such a beautiful and wholesome message!!!
My fave hijab colour is pink and I will defo wear it proudly!!!
10/10 would recommend
...more
My fave hijab colour is pink and I will defo wear it proudly!!!
10/10 would recommend
...more
Gorgeous illustrations accompany an empowering story. I loved the supportive and loving relationship of the sisters and the encouraging words from their strong mother. "Some people won't understand your hijab, Mama had said. But if you understand who you are, one day they will too."
Loved this!!! My nephew was so hyped that a character had the same name as his school friend
...more
A moving story of standing up for yourself and your beliefs told in an accessible and engaging fashion. Faizah's big sister Asiya is wearing hijab to school for the first time, and despite being bullied by some classmates, she is brave, confident, and proud, a role model for her younger sister, her friends, and for those who read this book. Ideal for a kindergarten or slightly older audience.
Themes: School, Islam, Colors, Siblings
Themes: School, Islam, Colors, Siblings
I cannot wait to read this story ro my niece. It is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are stunning, but the story is so wonderful. A story of two sisters. For Faizah, it's her first day of school and for her sister Asiya, it her first day of hijab. To Faizah the hijab is the ocean and her sister a princess. I really loved this story and the author's note at the end. Beautiful.
Wonderful story both for youngsters who need to see themselves and their culture in picture books and to use to introduce the tradition of wearing the hijab.
Sweet and celebratory with absolutely gorgeous illustrations by Hatem Aly.
Sweet and celebratory with absolutely gorgeous illustrations by Hatem Aly.
I absolutely love this book - gorgeous illustrations, thoughtful story. My favorite page - “Don’t carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep.” If I could assign books to humanity, this would be required reading.
Hm, does this count as a celebrity-written children's book? (The author is an Olympic athlete in fencing who competed in hijab for the USA.) If it is, we gotta add it to that EXTEMELY SHORT list of superb children's books written by famous people.
It's a lovely, conversation-starting, age-appropriate look at a little girl's pride for her sister, who is wearing hijab to school for the first time. Not everyone is supportive. It's a depiction of bullying and of also of religious/cultural pride, and ...more
It's a lovely, conversation-starting, age-appropriate look at a little girl's pride for her sister, who is wearing hijab to school for the first time. Not everyone is supportive. It's a depiction of bullying and of also of religious/cultural pride, and ...more
Shockingly not clunky for a book co-authored by someone who isn't a writer. Great art, great message.
What a wonderful book.
Not only was it lovely to see such representation of young Muslim girls who are hijabis, this book was also beautiful! The way Faizah so admired her sister, Asiya, and her hijab, gorgeously rendered as the sky or the ocean in lovely spreads, portrayed a lovely relationship between sisters as much as a love of faith. This was, in many was, a story of "family, love, and faith" as Ibtihaj Muhammad herself describes it.
Beautiful art, beautiful writing, beautiful message. Ibtihaj Muhammad is a wonderful role model for young women; she has a beautiful heart and mind.
A lovely story with gorgeous illustrations!
YES!
Oct 04, 2019
Sara
added it
This book was very personal to me. It allowed me to see that I am not the only one that goes through the feeling of wanting to start wearing the hijab and constantly looking out for those who wear it. In this story it shared the story of 2 sisters who had started the first day of school but it was not only the start of a new school year it was the first day of starting to wear the hijab. The younger sister was so proud of her sister but noticed that people did not see her sisters hijab as
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A beautiful message and beautiful illustrations. Really, I can't get over some of the gorgeous spreads Hatem Aly created to show Asiya's power. And I loved how the kids who make fun of her are portrayed without specific defining features.
The author, Ibtihaj Muhammad, said she wanted to tell this story to help others "see that the parts of ourselves that might make us appear 'different' are worth celebrating." This is an amazing book to help anyone who feel "othered" by their faith realize that ...more
The author, Ibtihaj Muhammad, said she wanted to tell this story to help others "see that the parts of ourselves that might make us appear 'different' are worth celebrating." This is an amazing book to help anyone who feel "othered" by their faith realize that ...more
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Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American sabre fencer, is a 2016 Olympic medalist, 5-time Senior World medalist and World Champion in the sport of fencing. In August 2016, she became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab and is also the first Muslim woman to win an Olympic medal for the United States. Ibtihaj is a 3-time All American from Duke University, with a dual degree in
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“Don't carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They belong only to those who said them.”
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