My Name is Bilal
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Featured in a New York Times article titled "Teach Your Kids to Resist Hatred Toward Asians"
A young boy wrestles with his Muslim identify until a compassionate teacher helps him to understand more about his heritage.
After a family move, Bilal and his sister Ayesha attend a new school where they find out that they may be the only Muslim students there. Bilal sees his sister bullied on their first day, so he worries about being teased himself, thinking it might be best if his classmates didn't know that he is Muslim. Maybe if he tells kids his name is Bill, rather than Bilal, then they will eave him alone. But when Bilal's teacher Mr. Ali, who is also Muslim, sees how Bilal is struggling. He gives Bilal a book about the first person to give the call to prayer during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. That person was another Bilal: Bilal Ibn Rabah. What Bilal learns from the book forms the compelling story of a young boy grappling with his identity.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The classrooms and playgrounds of Average Town, U.S.A., are the backdrop for this picture book about religious prejudice and tolerance. When Bilal and his sister Ayesha arrive at a new school, Bilal is sure that he and Ayesha are the only Muslim kids around, and some of the boys have already bullied Ayesha because of her traditional dress. Bilal wants so badly not to stand out in his new environment, that he initially introduces himself as "Bill." Lucky for him, his teacher is also Muslim (and a family friend) and provides some support along with an interesting book about a famous Muslim hero whose name was also Bilal. Soon Bilal reconnects with his pride in his religious identity and also makes new friends. Mobin-Uddin, making her picture-book debut, tackles a timely topic and raises some true-to-life situations, but Bilal's struggle is all-too-neatly and quickly resolved. Still, the book does a good job of presenting encouraging, positive images that contemporary Muslims in particular can embrace. Kiwak, also a newcomer to children's books, uses an earthy watercolor palette for a series of moving portraits. Ages 6-up.
