Sister Friend by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani
After years of teaching, librarian-ing, and mothering, my reviewers are for adults, but with kids in mind. I read in different environments and try and balance what children will think with my more critical literary impressions. But honestly, my first reaction when I see Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow has a new book out, is not about the children, or their parents, it is incredibly selfish, and I want to read the picture book for me. It has been about a year since I first read my all time favorite, Salat in Secret, and I still feel all the feels, every time I read the book. I even enjoy handing the book to people and watching them read it for the first time. So, I was both excited, and nervous to read this new book, not knowing if it would measure up to my expectations or rather hopes, so to speak. I needn’t have worried, subhanAllah, this book in it’s own right is moving, heartfelt, layered, powerful, hopeful, relatable, tender, and while staying on a kindergarten to second grade level is also unapologetic with its centering of Islam, race, and feeling invisible, being new, and making a friend. The illustrations and words blend beautifully, and by the second page of the 40 page book, I was already emotionally attached to the little protagonist Ameena. Good writing is good writing, and as a result this beautiful book works for all ages and will be appreciated on multiple layers even after dozens of readings, alhumdulillah.
The book begins with Ameena playing a game by herself. She always plays by herself at school, where she tends to be invisible. Maybe it is her hair in twists or her brownness, she doesn’t know. One day a new girl comes, her name is Sundus, she wears hijab like Ameena wears to the masjid.
All day Ameena tries to talk to Sundus, but something always seems to keep them apart. When they finally meet, Ameena’s excited words get all tangled, and a misunderstanding occurs. Ameena decides the next day to transform into a rockstar: red-orange hijab and matching boots. The other kids say she is copying the new girl. Sundus doesn’t say anything.
Ameena disappears again at school, but family night at the masjid is her happy place. Where she doesn’t play alone, and there are lots of browns, and she is seen. When Mama meets a new sister, and greets her with Assalamu Alaikum, Ameena sees how a greeting and a hug can be the start of sisterhood and friendship. And the next time Sundus and Ameena meet, they know just what to say.
The joy at the end forces you to smile, just as Ameena playing alone at the beginning tugs at your heart. It is a great book to see yourself and see others in a beautiful, authentic way. The universal themes of not being seen, making a friend, and being the new kid, are woven in just as hijab, masjid and Assalamu Alaikum are, making the book powerful for Muslim and non Muslims alike.
I particularly love that their is no glossary, and that the text uses the word masjid not mosque, hijab not scarf and Assalamu Alaikum not salam. That the masjid is her safe place to laugh and play, and that this book is mainstream published and will find its way to public spaces and be widely accessible.
You can preorder your copy here on Amazon.
