A well written thought provoking book that allows the reader to see things from another perspective. The way the story weaves history, culture and religion together without it being negative in any way is a thing of joy. Now that I got a bigger Cintiq than the small one I had I need to work out a larger desk! I tend to be messy when I’m working but not too bad, ha-ha. And I do have a roommate who is a lovebird! Our dog and two cats come and visit very often but not the 2 bunnies. Make a Proudest Blue Paper Boat by following the instructions in this video by the book’s illustrator, S. K. Ali. As James Brown said, "Say it loud, say it proud." Except in this book, he could sing, "Say it loud, wear it proud, wear it in a crowd."

And while I am not Muslim...as someone who has been Othered/bullied for being brown, I am so thankful to see media like this where diversity is celebrated. It also shows that breaking stereotypes is so vital. The author herself is a legend! Watch the following TED Talk by the author. Can you think of questions you would like to ask her about her experiences? I grabbed up this book from the library the day it was available, because I have always wondered about hijab and what it means. (For what it's worth, I am not a religious person, but cultural/religious rituals and habits fascinate me)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.

Some of the people in the story are drawn using silhouettes. Why is this? Could you try to make some silhouette pictures? This was a sweet, hopeful book. I wish there had been more exploration of why it was important for the characters to wear hijab, other than it made them feel close to their culture and family. But I suppose that's more of an adult complaint. I don't know. I might have wanted to know if I read this as a kid. I didn't realize before reading this that the author was an Olympic medalist, so that's pretty neat. The pictures are gorgeous.Just like the author told her story of love and family, you can tell your story. Write a sentence telling the main message of your story. The story you want to share with others. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book for those who want to learn more about hijabs and Muslim culture - I think would be a good and empowering book for young Muslim girls instead. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali promotes themes of being proud of our identity and what makes us different. You can reinforce the following topics in the classroom:

The story keeps repeating that hijabs are beautiful as if it's just a fashionable accessory, nothing more. It goes into very vague reasoning as to why hijabs are important such as "It means being strong" and it also means that "you understand who you are." But what does that mean exactly? Home Learning Reader in Residence Reader in Residence Digital Years 1 & 2 The Proudest Blue The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly Published by Anderson PressWe typically choose stories with obvious problems and solutions when we teach conflict and resolution. But it’s also important for students to practice this skill with stories where it’s not as evident. For some students, the conflict and resolution in The Proudest Blue will be harder to identify. Asiya’s mama shares lots of quotes to support and inspire her daughters. What helpful words and phrases have your family and friends ever said to you? Show:Look at the cover showing Faizah sailing in the blue of her sister's head scarf. What are some things that are blue?

Show:Look at the picture and notes from the author at the end of the book. The author says this is story of family, love, and faith. Why did she write the book and share her story? Look at the author’s notes. What do you think of Ibtihaj Muhammad’s reasons for writing The Proudest Blue? The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family follows sisters Asiya and Faizah. Asiya is celebrating her first day of wearing a hijab. Although most kids in their class are struggling to understand, Faizah and Asiya are proud of what the hijab represents in their Muslim faith and culture. Stark, spiky silhouettes suggest the impact of casual unkindness, while strong, simple poetic language evokes Asiya's calm determination to ignore intolerance' GUARDIAN This is an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond shared by siblings and of being proud of who you are, from Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad.MuslimFest is an award winning one to three-day arts festival which has been taking place for the last 17 years in seven cities across North America attracting 500 to 60,000 people. Think about the conflict and resolution. What message do you think the author wants us to take away from this book? Inspiring…The lovely, playful illustrations by Aly capture the spirit of imagination and sisterly solidarity in the face of bullying.” — New York Times Book Review