Not Now, Noor!

Product Information

With my own children way past sharing such titles with me, and my own knowledge now quite poor, I have mostly relied on recommendations from my Twitter friends up until now to guide my acquisitions. A flowery sentiment, but little Noor and the reader never got the answer as to why Muslim women wear hijab, and I think that it is unfortunate. It seems to be a common approach lately, and I wish that more picture books about hijab would clearly articulate that the commandment to cover is in the Quran. Bright, colourful and highly engaging, this is a book I could not wait to share with both my class and in my little lunchtime Story Club, where it proved a huge hit this week. Just as Noor is ready to give up on her hijab quest, her Ammu arrives home and knows just the thing to say.

The book starts with Noor identifying what her Ammu's hijab is and isn't, how she wears it and how she doesn't. Using a vibrant colour palette of reds, yellows and purples, the beautiful artwork is full of emotion and movement.

Noor loves her mum, and all the other hijabi women in her family, but wonders why do they wear headscarves?

Imagine Me Stories is an award winning monthly subscription box that aims to inspire all children by providing quality black children's literature and empowering black history activities. The next page shows Noor's bustling family and she compares how her Ammu's hijab is not the same as her Nanu's or Dadu's or Aunt's or even her sister's, but she doesn't know why any of them wear it. She briefly worked as product designer in Japan and Indonesia before moving to the United States to study children's book illustration. It may have perks of keeping your ears warm, fashion, or hiding your earbuds, but that isn't why Muslim women wear hijab.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Yes I know there is a family tree on the inside cover, but at story time, it is cumbersome to flip back and forth. The book articulates that we are Muslim and that hijab defines us, which I love, it just seems that while the rest of the book is incredibly direct and funny, the answer is fuzzy and lyrical. Throughout the book, those for whom a hijab is unfamiliar are gently corrected in their misassumptions with the result that the book is one that will educate them without their knowing – they will simply enjoy the story and the beautiful pictures throughout.