The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship (The Proudest Blue)

Product Information

The creators of the bestselling The Proudest Blue (2019) return with a tale of siblings, friendship, and acts of kindness. Versions 6-8: Use the prompts to share how you can pass kindness to your family, friends, teacher, and community. S.K. Ali is the award-winning and bestselling author of a number of books for children and young adults, including Saints and Misfits, The Proudest Blue (coauthor), and Once Upon an Eid(coeditor and contributor). She lives in Toronto with her family and invites you to visit her online at skalibooks.com.

In The Kindest Red, Faizah gets ready for picture day at school by wearing a hand-me-down red dress that she had been longing to wear. She and her friend Sophie twirl in their dresses. At school, her teacher asks the class to draw and write about a world they would want. Faizah draws a kind world of friends always helping each other. At recess she and her friend Sophie use their superpowers to be kind and helpful. After class, Faizah and her sister, who wears a blue hijab from the first book by the authors, The Proudest Blue, are to get their sibling photo taken. All the siblings are dressed alike, except for Faizah and her sister Asiya. Faizah is depressed until her friends use their kindness superpower to think of a brilliant idea. The book starts with Mama passing on Asiya's dress to Faizah, that had been Mama's even before that. It is picture day, and the girls are helping each other get ready. At school Faizah and her friend Sophie twirl in their pretty dresses before heading in to class to discuss what kind of world they want. Mae Faizah a Sophie'n gwneud pâr rhagorol, yn lledu meddylgarwch i bobman, ac mae yna hiwmor tyner yn ymwneud y dosbarth â'i gilydd. Mae'r darluniau'n ddeinamig a lliwgar, gydag ambell edrychiad hyfryd o ddigywilydd ar wynebau'r plant. Mae Faizah hefyd yn ymddangos yn The Proudest Blue, llyfr lluniau ardderchog arall gan yr un creawdwyr. My class understood the author wants us to be nice and kind. They liked the kindness superpower. A couple of my girls liked seeing the hijab because they wear one on special occasions. We talked about—what if the clothing was a different color than red? A girl suggested the kindest pink to match her sweater. A boy said, “a caring rainbow.” Others said, “the nicest teal” and “respectful violet.” I told them when they have time, they could illustrate their ideas.To connect the Cover Flap and Response Template, place glue on the top gray-rectangle tab marked “glue” on the Response Template.

Share what kind of world you want to live in with your family and friends, and ask them what world they want to live in. Share how you can make this world possible. Versions 1-4: Draw/write about how you would make the world you imagine. For example, if you want to live in a “Safe World”, write or draw how you would make the world safe. Ibtihaj Muhammad captures one little girls wish to be like her big sister, to wear a beautiful red dress on school picture day - passed down through the generations as a prized possession she can now enjoy - and to be empowered by her faith in friendship and the goodness of the world. There is nothing but hope, happiness and love in this story - a refreshing addition to the shelves of children's picture books. What I loved about the book is when Faizah was down, her friends gathered around her and asked what was wrong and how they could help. I pointed out that in our kindergarten class, some of them are very good at being caring. Faizah is sad, and Sophie notices, can the kindness be passed along like the dress to help the sisters? To make Faizah happy too? I'm not going to give away the conclusion, but it is sweet and idyllic and shows how lovely the world can be if we all just share some kindness.Inspiring.... The lovely, playful illustrations by Aly capture the spirit of imagination and sisterly solidarity in the face of bullying."— New York Times Book Review Ibtihaj Muhammad is the first American woman in hijab to compete for the United States in the Olympic Games. She is also the first female Muslim American woman to medal at the Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in the saber team event. An award-winning author, activist, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj has written a memoir, Proud, as well as picture books included The Proudest Blue, and inspired the first hijabi Barbie, in her likeness. She invites you to visit her online at ibtihajmuhammad.com.