Book Review - 'The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family' by Ibtihaj Muhammad (Writer), S.K. Ali (Writer), Hatem Aly (Illustrator)

'The Proudest Blue' is one of the most empowering, beautiful, peaceful, and important diverse children's picture books ever created. It is about Muslim women and girls, specifically the wearing of hijab. Their own hijab. For each is different, and all Muslim women are individuals. It is also a story of sisterhood, and the close, unbreakable bond there. It is about childhood, innocence, and females in a family (loving, supportive motherhood plays a vital role, as well). There are themes of tolerance and bullying - they needed to be included, for realism and for important messages to be told.

That's all I feel I can say, regarding a book whose subject matter I am not personally familiar with, nor am I in a position to accurately comment on. I am not qualified.

But the themes of 'The Proudest Blue' are human and universal. Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first Muslim American woman in hijab to compete for the US in the Olympic Games, and the first female Muslim American to win a medal at the Olympic Games - an Olympic fencer, and awesome, inspirational human being - has created a wonderful, astounding, uplifting and hopeful children's book, along with S.K. Ali, and Hatem Aly with his breathtaking, amazing illustrations.

Don't allow yourself to feel blue in that sense, no matter the dark, intolerant, ignorant, hateful times. Be proud of the blue. For it is the colour of the sky and the ocean, always there, always expanding, always limitless, always strong, and full of potential, and it is natural and normal.

Be serene and tranquil, like the blue.

Be proud and happy for any colour.

Be you.



'Some people won't understand your hijab, Mama had said.
But if you understand who you are, one day they will too.'


'Mama: Don't carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep.

They belong only to those who said them.'



From Ibtihaj Muhammad in the Authors' Notes:


'[...] I faced bullying from classmates because of the way I showed my faith. [...]
It was at that time, in the first years of senior school, that I realised my faith had the power to change how people treated me and that I may be "othered" - all because of my hijab. You wouldn't think that a simple headscarf could cause such commotion, but throughout my childhood, adolescence and adulthood, it has. It took me a long time to come to the place where I could brush off the looks and ignore the haters. It isn't easy, and I'm sure girls today face the same treatment - or worse - than what I faced.
I wanted to tell this story so that children who look like me could see themselves in a picture book - a story of family, love and faith. So that they can see two sisters taking pride in hijab, and see that the parts of ourselves that might make us appear "different" are worth celebrating. So that children of colour, Muslims, and those who are both (like me) know they aren't alone and that there are many out there who share our experience.'



From S.K. Ali in the Authors' Notes:


'[...] It is my hope that this book can serve as a testimony to the fire and love within ourselves, which all of us - not just those othered for observing hijab - can reach for in times of fear and sadness. As a Muslim, I believe that this love was put there by God to carry us through hardships of all kinds.'



Final Score: 4/5