Mommy's Khimar - Hardcover

Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1534400591 ISBN 13: 9781534400597

Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018

Synopsis

Selected as a Best Book of 2018 by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Shelf Awareness!

A young Muslim girl spends a busy day wrapped up in her mother’s colorful headscarf in this sweet and fanciful picture book from debut author and illustrator Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn.

A khimar is a flowing scarf that my mommy wears.
Before she walks out the door each day, she wraps one around her head.

A young girl plays dress up with her mother’s headscarves, feeling her mother’s love with every one she tries on. Charming and vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the diverse and welcoming community in this portrait of a young Muslim American girl’s life.

About this title

About the Author

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a passionate educator, anti-racism activist, wife, and mother of two. She is a 2016 MuslimARC Muslim Anti-Racism–AMEL Fellow. She lives in Philadelphia with her family. Mommy’s Khimar is her first picture book.

Ebony Glenn is an illustrator and artist living on the quiet outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. With an arts degree in drawing and painting from UNG, she aspires to bring stories to life with fanciful illustrations that are filled with whimsy and charm to provide rich literary experiences for readers.

Review

"This affirming book will be a welcome mirror for Muslim and interfaith families, and a necessary counter to the Islamophobic discourse that fills the current airwaves. The illustrations are as lively and brightly colored as the khimars themselves, and smiling faces of friends and family members echo the warm message of the text." -- Booklist, February 1, 2018

* "At the core of the story is the love between the girl and her mother....The words are often lyrical, and the story artfully includes many cultural details that will delight readers who share the cheerful protagonist's culture and enlighten readers who don't. With a universal message of love and community, this book offers a beautiful representation of a too-often-overlooked cultural group." -- Kirkus Reviews - starred review, February 15, 2018

* "Debut author Thompkins-Bigelow’s lyrical text and Glenn’s lighthearted Disney-style pictures are similarly sunny. Rather than offer an exegesis of the khimar or a plea for acceptance and understanding, they allow their heroine’s carefree confidence to speak for itself." -- Publisher's Weekly - starred review, January 29, 2018

* "The vibrancy and charm of Glenn's art is embracing, allowing readers of all cultures and faiths to appreciate the narrator's joy and celebrate with her. Readers of all backgrounds can easily identify with the imaginative, young narrator...The delightful prose and whimsical illustrations reflect a culture of diversity and acceptance while offering many entry points for discussion with young audiences. Warm and sweet, Mommy's Khimar is an uplifting and invigorating tale for any story time." -- Shelf Awareness - STARRED review, April 20, 2018

"A sweet addition to picture book collections." -- School Library Journal, May 2018

About this edition

• Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1534400591
• ISBN 13: 9781534400597
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Glenn Ebony