The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship (The Proudest Blue)

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This cheerful multicultural book, brimming with optimism and hope, will make a lovely read-aloud or bedtime story.”— Booklist Versions 6-8: Use the prompts to share how you can pass kindness to your family, friends, teacher, and community. Ibtihaj Muhammad is the first American woman in hijab to compete for the United States in the Olympic Games. She is also the first female Muslim American woman to medal at the Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in the saber team event. An award-winning author, activist, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj has written a memoir, Proud, as well as picture books included The Proudest Blue, and inspired the first hijabi Barbie, in her likeness. She invites you to visit her online at ibtihajmuhammad.com.

Faizah wants a kind world, where there's always a friend nearby, where everyone helps. At recess, Sophie and Faizah combine their visions, superheroes and kindness, to help other kids on the playground. When picture time arrives the class is full of smiles, but when it is time for sibling pictures, Faiza and Asiya realize they don't match. My class understood the author wants us to be nice and kind. They liked the kindness superpower. A couple of my girls liked seeing the hijab because they wear one on special occasions. We talked about—what if the clothing was a different color than red? A girl suggested the kindest pink to match her sweater. A boy said, “a caring rainbow.” Others said, “the nicest teal” and “respectful violet.” I told them when they have time, they could illustrate their ideas. 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 This charming book reminds children that even the smallest gesture can mean a lot to others. Faizah and Sophie make an excellent pair, spreading thoughtfulness everywhere, and there is gentle humour in the interactions between the class. The illustrations are dynamic and colourful, with some lovely cheeky and happy expressions on the kids’ faces. The sisters Faizah and Asiya also feature in the brilliant picture book The Proudest Blue, and the love they have for each other shines out powerfully in both books. A delight!A joyous tale of strengthening community by lifting up one another …the message is perfect as well as vital for elementary children. An exuberant follow-up to The Proudest Blue.”— School Library Journal S.K. Ali is the award-winning and bestselling author of a number of books for children and young adults, including Saints and Misfits, The Proudest Blue (coauthor), and Once Upon an Eid(coeditor and contributor). She lives in Toronto with her family and invites you to visit her online at skalibooks.com. In The Kindest Red, Faizah gets ready for picture day at school by wearing a hand-me-down red dress that she had been longing to wear. She and her friend Sophie twirl in their dresses. At school, her teacher asks the class to draw and write about a world they would want. Faizah draws a kind world of friends always helping each other. At recess she and her friend Sophie use their superpowers to be kind and helpful. After class, Faizah and her sister, who wears a blue hijab from the first book by the authors, The Proudest Blue, are to get their sibling photo taken. All the siblings are dressed alike, except for Faizah and her sister Asiya. Faizah is depressed until her friends use their kindness superpower to think of a brilliant idea. The creators of the bestselling The Proudest Blue (2019) return with a tale of siblings, friendship, and acts of kindness. S.K. Ali is the award-winning and bestselling author of a number of books for children and young adults, including Saints and Misfits, The Proudest Blue (coauthor), and Once Upon an Eid (coeditor and contributor). She lives in Toronto with her family and invites you to visit her online at skalibooks.com.

Mae athrawes Faizah yn gofyn i'w dosbarth pa fath o fyd hoffen nhw ei gael. Mae rhai eisiau byd hufen ia neu fyd uncorn; hoffai Faizah fyd caredig, felly aeth hi a'i ffrind Sophie ati i greu un yn yr ysgol. Hatem Aly's ink-wash and watercolour illustrations perfectly complement the lyricism of Muhammed and Ali's moving text."— The Globe and Mail Lift the Cover Flap to reveal your responses and share what kind of world you want to live in, and how you can make that dream come true! The book starts with Mama passing on Asiya's dress to Faizah, that had been Mama's even before that. It is picture day, and the girls are helping each other get ready. At school Faizah and her friend Sophie twirl in their pretty dresses before heading in to class to discuss what kind of world they want. Aly's ink-wash-and-pencil illustrations settle and soar along with the language.... This story, as both window and mirror, inevitably educates, but more important, it encourages pride in and respect for hijab through a tale of two sisters, their bond strengthened by faith."— Booklist, starred reviewIt’s the doldrums of a Midwest winter, and some of my students are on edge with each other. So I was looking for a BIPOC friendship book to use for Valentine’s week. The bright red dress from the cover caught my attention along with the word Kindest. To connect the Cover Flap and Response Template, place glue on the top gray-rectangle tab marked “glue” on the Response Template.

This is a story about dreaming, about an inclusive world, about family and the threads that hold them together. It's less about Hijab's and Friendship actually than I think it probably was meant to be - instead it feels more about just "being", and I think I like that just as much. When you're little, just being is all you care about; it's only when we grow that we begin to understand that not everyone will accept us for who we are and the gross unfairness of that. So I loved the childlike, innocent lense we got to see this through.

Line up the Cover Flap on top of the Response Template so that it covers your responses. (See Sample Photos) What I loved about the book is when Faizah was down, her friends gathered around her and asked what was wrong and how they could help. I pointed out that in our kindergarten class, some of them are very good at being caring. Versions 1-4: Draw/write about how you would make the world you imagine. For example, if you want to live in a “Safe World”, write or draw how you would make the world safe. Ibtihaj Muhammad is the first American woman in hijab to compete for the United States in the Olympic Games. She is also the first female Muslim American woman to medal at the Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in the saber team event. An award-winning author, activist, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj has written a memoir, Proud, as well as picture books included The Proudest Blue,and inspired the first hijabi Barbie, in her likeness. She invites you to visit her online at ibtihajmuhammad.com. Faizah is sad, and Sophie notices, can the kindness be passed along like the dress to help the sisters? To make Faizah happy too? I'm not going to give away the conclusion, but it is sweet and idyllic and shows how lovely the world can be if we all just share some kindness.

Ibtihaj Muhammad captures one little girls wish to be like her big sister, to wear a beautiful red dress on school picture day - passed down through the generations as a prized possession she can now enjoy - and to be empowered by her faith in friendship and the goodness of the world. There is nothing but hope, happiness and love in this story - a refreshing addition to the shelves of children's picture books.

Mae Faizah a Sophie'n gwneud pâr rhagorol, yn lledu meddylgarwch i bobman, ac mae yna hiwmor tyner yn ymwneud y dosbarth â'i gilydd. Mae'r darluniau'n ddeinamig a lliwgar, gydag ambell edrychiad hyfryd o ddigywilydd ar wynebau'r plant. Mae Faizah hefyd yn ymddangos yn The Proudest Blue, llyfr lluniau ardderchog arall gan yr un creawdwyr. The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K.Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly