Summary
This book is about a little girl who is Arabic. It focuses on her love for her mommy’s Khimar (Hijaab). The little girl feels powerful when she wears her mom’s Hijaab. She is very excited whenever she gets to wear one. Her Mom-Mom (grandma) doesn’t wear one because she does not go to the mosque, but she tells her granddaughter how beautiful she is in it. By the end of the book the girl and her mom take their Hijaabs off, but the girl dreams of wearing it and being close with her mom.
Theme(s):
Family, Inclusion, Proud
Personal Response
This book is a good way to introduce students to customs of different cultures. It shows them that some people wear different clothes/accessories based on their culture. This book does a great job of empowering the differences we all have and shows us that it is beautiful to embrace your culture. I think that this book will grab students’ attention and they will be able to relate to it one way or another.
Teaching Ideas
I would introduce the book by asking students what they notice on the cover, then we’ll discuss their answers. Next, I’ll read the story aloud to my students while conducting a discussion. After that, we’ll have a whole group discussion about the story and the importance of the Hijaab. Later, I will ask students to write down something that makes them themselves. I will have them share that with a partner. Lastly, I will have them complete a worksheet where they design their own Khimar (Hijaab).
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
