Under My Hijab

November 15, 2018
A window into the world of a Muslim-American girl and the diverse women in her family and community.A young, unnamed female narrator observes the women in her lives in public situations where they wear hijab and other situations where they do not, clearly showing when Muslim women who wear hijab transition into situations and places where they do not wear hijab. Khan connects in words the personality of each woman in and out of hijab. When Grandma is at work baking, "her hijab is carefully folded, / like the crusts on my favorite pies," while "at home in her kitchen, / Grandma fixes her hair in a bun." When she's in her shared studio, an aunt's hijab "towers up high, / pinned with a handmade jewel," but at home the narrator can appreciate how her hair "is streaked pink and purple." Jaleel's illustrations pair well with Khan's text, depicting some of the various ways hijab is styled. Though specific ethnicities are not mentioned, the family is multiracial, with the grandmother and father appearing black, a light-skinned mother and other female relatives, and friends with various skin tones. Women are also varied in ages and body shape. An endnote provides further information about hijab, what the word means, when women choose to wear it, why they choose to wear it, and that some women, like the author of the book, choose not to wear it.Informative and genuine, the book offers much to learn about the settings and situations of hijab. (Picture book. 4-10)

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November 15, 2018
Grades K-3 A young girl watches the women in her life, paying close attention to how they wear their hijabs. Grandma carefully tucks in the ends of hers, like the pastry on the pies she bakes. Auntie, who is an artist, winds her silky hijab high on her head and pins it with a jewel. Iman's more sporty covering stays put while she competes for her martial-arts black belt. This book is a generous invitation by both author and illustrator to young Muslim girls to witness the variety of ways and reasons women wear hijabs. It is necessarily unsubtle, for it also considers the gaze of the outsider who may wonder and have questions. The women and girls the protagonist admires vary in profession, age, and race. They go about their lives with confidence and pride, choosing to style their hijabs according to circumstance or whimsy. An author's note explains when and why some Muslim women choose to cover, or not. Cheerful, colorful images complement the affirming tone and message of this timely book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)