mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
Een mooie prentenboek over een klein zusje die heel veel houdt van haar grotere zus. En ook erg trots op haar is omdat deze vanaf nu een prachtige hijab draagt! We zien dat het niet altijd makkelijk is voor de zus (en ook het kleine zusje krijgt een of twee opmerkingen), maar dat ze zich dapper door alles heen slaat en ik was ook blij dat ze een groep vrienden had die er voor haar waren en haar steunden. Ik vond het lief en mooi geschreven en ik vond het leuk dat we niet de zus met de hijab volgen maar haar kleinere zusje!
De illustraties waren echt prachtig, vooral de kleur van hijab was WOW.
De illustraties waren echt prachtig, vooral de kleur van hijab was WOW.
alittleoverdue's review
5.0
It's on many "Best of 2019" lists for a reason. The gorgeous blues of the illustrations draw your eyes to the pages. The story celebrates the choice to wear hajib with standing proud in face of discrimination. Important and instructive for all readers to see hajib depicted in an empowering way that honors Muslim culture.
jennreads69's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautiful.
adriagoetz's review
5.0
Really lovely writing/illustrations, and so sad to see how people can rob (or try to rob) some of the joy of wearing a hijab.
habiba_r's review
5.0
You probably hear this a lot about books that represent a part of your culture or identity - "I wish this was around when I was young!" and I'd like to reiterate this for 'The Proudest Blue'. The book was evocative and uplifting and brought alive so many memories from when I was young - running in the playground when I was 8 with a scarf half falling off my head that I'd insisted on wearing because it was the month of Ramadan. So many little joys and pride in wearing the hijab! It does really well on explaining the emotional relationship that women and girls have with it.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
Ibtihaj Muhammad, co-author of this wonderful story, shares at the back of the book a tale from her childhood in which, when wearing her hijab at school for the first time, was asked by some spiteful onlookers why she had a ‘tablecloth’ on her head. And even though she had been counselled, warned and guided by her family, she still struggled to deal with the needless bullying that came from her wearing a scarf around her head as a sign of her faith. In The Proudest Blue then we find a story that mirrors these experiences from the perspective of Asiya’s little sister, Faizah. She watches her older sister embrace her first day of wearing her hijab at school and learns much from Asiya’s strength of character and the wisdom in surrounding yourself with friends who respect and welcome her choices.
The story opens with both sisters being taken to the store to purchase Asiya’s ‘first-day hijab’. She is instantly drawn to fabric that is of the ‘brightest blue’ and as they eventually make their way to school, Faizah knows that when her own time comes she too will choose that colour. What the youngest sibling had not anticipated though were the inquisitive questions of what her sister is wearing and the moments of mockery (and perhaps fear) she would see her sister suffer. Although Faizah is at first concerned, Asiya stands so strong and unwavering that her younger sister can only watch on in admiration.
There is a lovely blend in the narrative between reflection and wisdom and a sense of looking to the future. This is a book about tolerance and understanding but also about not letting ‘hurtful words’ weigh you down for they are, as the sisters’ mother says, ‘not for you to keep’ but instead ‘belong only to those who said them’: a lovely message for any child to hold on to.
There is no doubt that Ali and Muhammad have worked extremely well to bring this story together but credit must go to the incredible work of Aly whose bright splashes of colour and clever play with tone and position really heighten the emotional resonances of this story. What a gorgeous book to share in any class.
The story opens with both sisters being taken to the store to purchase Asiya’s ‘first-day hijab’. She is instantly drawn to fabric that is of the ‘brightest blue’ and as they eventually make their way to school, Faizah knows that when her own time comes she too will choose that colour. What the youngest sibling had not anticipated though were the inquisitive questions of what her sister is wearing and the moments of mockery (and perhaps fear) she would see her sister suffer. Although Faizah is at first concerned, Asiya stands so strong and unwavering that her younger sister can only watch on in admiration.
There is a lovely blend in the narrative between reflection and wisdom and a sense of looking to the future. This is a book about tolerance and understanding but also about not letting ‘hurtful words’ weigh you down for they are, as the sisters’ mother says, ‘not for you to keep’ but instead ‘belong only to those who said them’: a lovely message for any child to hold on to.
There is no doubt that Ali and Muhammad have worked extremely well to bring this story together but credit must go to the incredible work of Aly whose bright splashes of colour and clever play with tone and position really heighten the emotional resonances of this story. What a gorgeous book to share in any class.