Think about the conflict and resolution. What message do you think the author wants us to take away from this book? Some of the people in the story are drawn using silhouettes. Why is this? Could you try to make some silhouette pictures? 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!

Show:Look at the cover showing Faizah sailing in the blue of her sister's head scarf. What are some things that are blue? This was a beautifully illustrated picture book about sisterhood and a girl's first day of wearing her hijab. How did you know Faizah was the narrator? How would the story have been different if told from Asiya’s point of view? Look at the facial expressions of the characters in the illustrations. How are you feeling? Can you draw some faces that show different expressions and emotions?

Children I teach report troubling encounters with Islamophobic behaviour when they aren't protected by school. There is a need to be open about this and to educate for understanding and tolerance of hijab. I would thoroughly recommend this book as a starting point that would fit perfectly into PSHE and RE lessons. I've used it successfully in a reading club with children in Years 1 and 2 but it would resonate, I think, with children throughout primary schools. The winners of The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards 2023, highlighting the work schools are doing to encourage a love of reading, have...

Ariana: My first appreciation is seeing multiple Muslims involved in the process of this book from the author, Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali and illustrated by Hatem Aly. The cover clearly conveys the concepts and themes– beauty of the blue hijab, ocean and sky, the endless possibilities. 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 well. I sort of allowed the characters and their personalities to tell me how they looked. Faizah’s feelings, thoughts, and observations allow her to access her imagination and contemplate the situation while still watching over her older sister; she is proud, smart and creative. Asiyaa and her friends stand their ground and don’t allow the bullying to escalate. They are a good group of friends, so I showed them as such. I also experimented with some different ways to wear the hijab but ended up going with a simple one. Asiya's hijab is like the ocean and the sky, no line between them, saying hello with a loud wave. It's Faizah's first day of school, and her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab - made of a beautiful blue fabric. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful. In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will Faizah find new ways to be strong?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. We 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.

Rosanne (Grandma): 4.5. If I go by how it was for me as a reader, and my interests, I would say 4 stars, I liked it, but if I can imagine an audience of hijab-wearing girls, I would say definitely 5 stars. One thing I like is that the antagonistic boys are depicted non-racially, just plain brown, so that makes it see less judgmental about a particular race. 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. Color me curious: the one thing this book did not offer is the "why" of wearing hijab, only suggesting the power and pride that comes with wearing it. I still have no idea what it represents or why it's important, only that the author says it is. I live in a place where it's cold, and I often bundle up with a scarf wrapped around my head and hair, which may suggest hijab. I wonder what people might be thinking about me wearing this.

Author Luke Palmer introduces his new book, Play (Firefly Press) about four boys growing up together, the challenges, the friendships, and what hap... This image is important because it normalizes the idea that the person wearing the scarf and not wearing the scarf are the same person. While the scarf has symbolism, it’s simultaneously a piece of clothing and there’s still that person with all the things that humans have underneath. As obvious as that sounds, it is an important statement. Continue reading. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - This sensitive representation of family relationships that provide a loving coat of armor against the world’s difficulties is memorable and inspiring. Bullies are depicted as faceless shadows, emphasizing the importance of discounting what they say…Triumphant and true” — Kirkus (Starred Review) Another great children's book with a most important message. Faizah admires her older sister Asiya and she just loves her bright blue hijab. To her, it represents beauty and tradition. To the kids at school, its strange and thus they make mean comments about it. Faizah, however, is not swayed by them. In fact, with every negative comment, she finds something else that is remarkable of her sister's blue hijab. These are absolutely gorgeous illustrations that go along perfectly with a strong narrative. It is a message thats needs to be heard by children and adults alike. In a world that can be so divisive, books like this one are necessary. A wonderful work all around.

Kirsten (2021-10-31). "The Proudest Blue Activities and Comprehension Questions". Children's Library Lady . Retrieved 2023-05-01.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family is a beautifully written and illustrated book by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali. Sisters Asiya and Faizah are off to their first day of school. Asiya is proudly wearing a beautiful, new blue hijab, which represents beauty and strength to the girls. However, other students react to Asiya’s hijab with questions and unkind actions. Faizah doesn’t understand how they see it so differently. She watches Asiya with concern, but Asiya simply turns and walks away. Faizah recalls her mother telling them to “drop” the hurtful words of others, and she too walks away. The girls head home at the end of the day, with Faizah fantasizing about the day she can wear her own blue hijab. Identity, courage, and family are important themes in this book. This is an uplifting story by fencer Muhammad, the first Muslim American woman in hijab to compete and to win a medal for the United States in the Olympic Games, and novelist Ali, with gorgeous illustrations by Aly. 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. The hijab is a special item of clothing. What clothes (or other items) are important / special to you?I especially liked how the kids who made fun of Asiya were not drawn with faces, but are instead unimportant, insubstantial shadows.