The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali

Illustrated by Hatem Aly

Little Brown Books for Young Readers

978-0-31651-900-7

40 pp.

Ages 4-8

September 2019

Rites of passage are important in many cultures though the nature of those rites can differ significantly or share commonalities. Many rites include those as a young person enters puberty and adulthood. For Faizah's older sister Asiya, it's the first day she will wear the hijab regularly, including to school. At home, Mama and Faizah are so excited as twelve-year-old Asiya chooses the  brightest blue, "The color of the ocean, if you squint your eyes and pretend there's no line between the water and the sky." But how will their schoolmates react to the princess Faizah sees in Asiya?

From The Proudest Blue, written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali, illus. by Hatem Aly

When Faizah's classmate asks, she explains that it's a scarf, recognizing that it's like "the sky on a sunny day. The sky isn't a whisper. It's always there, special and regular." But, though Asiya is excited, Faizah is worried for her, especially when some boys laugh at her sister.

From The Proudest Blue, written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali, illus. by Hatem Aly

Faizah is perplexed. The blue hijab is sky and water, strong and important, and these children do not understand. While Asiya and her friends ignore the taunts of the boys, Faizah remembers all the advice her mother had given them.

Don't carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep.

From The Proudest Blue, written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali, illus. by Hatem Aly

Muslim American Olympic fencer and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad tells a personal story of starting to wear the hijab to school and the bullying that she endured because of the way she chose to express her faith. More importantly, she gives voice to a common experience of being ridiculed for being different or perhaps just not understood. Asiya and Faizah's mother–as did Ibtihaj Muhammad's mother as indicated by her author's note–prepared her daughters well for this rite of passage. Though she cannot control what others think or say, she does strengthen their pride in the wearing of the hijab and understanding for those who might attack from ignorance. With Canadian author S. K. Ali as her co-author, Ibtihaj Muhammad tells her story with charity and honesty and eloquence.

Illustrator Hatem Aly, Egyptian-born and New Brunswick-residing, has a repertoire that ranges from pen-and-ink editorial illustrations to comics but here his digitally-rendered art, textured with ink washes and pencil on watercolour paper, adds a brightness to a child's story. The bullies are depicted as shadows, their faces never seen, appropriate for senseless oppressors. And for Faizah and her family and compassionate classmates? The colours, like that of Asiya's blue hijab, are radiant, filled with warmth and encouragement.

From The Proudest Blue, written by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali, illus. by Hatem Aly

The Proudest Blue, like the hijab of Ibtihaj Muhammad, S. K. Ali and Hatem Aly's story, has depth and consciousness of what it means to be Muslim, what it means to wear the hijab and what it means to be proud of faith and self-expression.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox

Written and illustrated by Danielle Daniel

Groundwood Books

978-1-55498-750-4

36 pp.

Ages 4-7

August 2015

Danielle Daniel may have written and illustrated Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox to “encourage her young son to connect with his Aboriginal roots” (author bio on book jacket) but the book’s wisdom reaches far beyond the Anishinaabe tradition of totems, inspiring all children to look within and find their own strengths of wisdom, vulnerability, determination, curiosity and more.

In four-line free verses, Danielle Daniel depicts twelve totem animals by identifying the animal, its characteristics, and its purposeful deeds.  From the bravery of the bear to the cleverness of the fox, the author-illustrator represents a child as each totem, with respect and admiration, directing them to help “identify with the positive character traits of animals that may be familiar to them” (Author’s Note; pg. 33) while still emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things.

As a mixed-media artist (and another upcoming children’s book illustrator I will need to add to my growing lists of youngCanLit illustrators’ Who’s Who!) Danielle Daniel delivers wonderfully textured art of boys and girls in the masks +/- costumes of animal totems (as possible) standing before unique wallpapers of stripes, flowers and patterns.  Her palette is subtle in peaches, turquoises, mustard and taupes but powerful enough to stand out.  While moving with timidity, or joy, or seriousness, bravado or hesitancy, the children model a range of animal totems that reveal more about themselves, though apparently hiding their facial expressions.

Sometimes I feel like an owl,
Intuitive and discreet.
I fly across the dark night sky,
Always watching and listening. (pg. 16)

Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox is lovely and captivating and can so easily reach beyond the gorgeous artwork and natural similes to draw readers into discussions of family and clans, of spirit guides and of introspection and self-awareness.  An amazing feat for “just” a little picture book.