A song of Jesus’ love sure to strengthen children when their bravery lags.
A young girl faces a “big day of big things” with a song about Jesus’ love.
The start to Una Rayne’s day is a metaphor for her feelings; the thick fog keeps her from seeing the way forward. But before Una Rayne can express her fear, her mother is there saying that in the child’s heart “lives the biggest and greatest song. The one that makes you brave.” And as Una Rayne dons her backpack and sets off, her mama sings it to her: “Jesus loves you, / Makes you strong. / In Him you’re brave / And you belong.” As the song reverberates, the fog disappears. When Una Rayne can’t find a place to belong at lunchtime, her song leads her to make her own space, and she attracts new friends to her, to whom she teaches her song. Toward the end, the book turns toward overt religious teaching, though the messages are welcome and needed: “Jesus…is Love Himself. And His whisper beats inside our hearts.” A final scriptural quote from Zephaniah ends the book on a page with space for a child’s photo. Grimes’ illustrations are full of marvelous textures and patterns, especially in the leafy green trees, and facial expressions and gestures do a lot of the heavy emotional lifting. Una Rayne presents Asian; her mother has light skin and straight, light-brown hair. Background characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A song of Jesus’ love sure to strengthen children when their bravery lags. (Religious picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-4964-4654-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tyndale Kids
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
With a universal message of love and community, this book offers a beautiful representation of a too-often-overlooked...
From a debut author-and-illustrator team comes a glimpse into a young American Muslim girl’s family and community as she walks around in “Mommy’s khimar,” or headscarf.
The star of this sunny picture book is a young girl who finds joy in wearing her mother’s khimar, imagining it transforms her into a queen, a star, a mama bird, a superhero. At the core of the story is the love between the girl and her mother. The family appears to be African-American, with brown skin and textured hair. The girl’s braids and twists “form a bumpy crown” under the khimar, which smells of coconut oil and cocoa butter. Adults in her life delight in her appearance in the bright yellow khimar, including her Arabic teacher at the mosque, who calls it a “hijab,” and her grandmother, who visits after Sunday service and calls out “Sweet Jesus!” as she scoops her granddaughter into her arms. Her grandmother is, apparently, a Christian, but “We are a family and we love each other just the same.” The illustrations feature soft pastel colors with dynamic lines and gently patterned backgrounds that complement the story’s joyful tone. 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 . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 3, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-0059-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
Lively, funny, and child-friendly.
A young girl is upset when her mother defers her promises.
When Ranya asks her mother if they can go to the park, Mama replies, “Insha’Allah.” Ranya fumes—that’s what her parents always say when they mean no! Mama explains that the sky’s looking overcast and adds that “insha’Allah“ means “God willing.” People say it when they hope for something that they aren’t sure will happen: “Sometimes Allah has other plans.” Ranya pries a little more: Is that why they didn’t bake cookies last night? And why her sleepover with her friend Jayda fell through? And why her parents have never taken her to Disneyland? Mama replies that it was getting too late to bake and that Jayda’s grandmother became sick, but she promises to take Ranya to Disneyland before she turns 18…insha’Allah. Ranya negotiates with her mother, who agrees that they can bake cookies later and Ranya can plan another sleepover. Mama notices the weather has improved and says they can go to the park. But first, she asks Ranya to clean up her toys. Ranya impishly replies, “Insha’Allah!” This is a sweet introduction to an expression often used in Muslim and Arabic-speaking communities. The playful banter between mother and daughter forms the heart of the story. Ranya and Mama are illustrated with warm brown skin tones; theirs is a diverse neighborhood. Homey illustrations in bold primary colors create a sense of coziness.
Lively, funny, and child-friendly. (authors’ note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 14, 2024
ISBN: 9780823454419
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
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