THE PROUDEST BLUE

Tell A Tale Pod - Telling tales, igniting imagination !

It’s Faizah’s first day of school and she’s got a brand-new backpack and light-up shoes. For her older sister, Asiya, it’s her first day of wearing a hijab at school. Faizah sees her sister as a princess wearing her beautiful blue hijab But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful. In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will the two girls find new ways to be strong?

Growing up in America, Ibtihaj Muhammad never saw herself in children's books. Now she's an accomplished sportswoman and children's author. She shares her feelings in this beautiful and powerful story about the bond shared between siblings and being proud of yourself and your beliefs. and tells us here how she hopes it will help kids pursue their dreams...

THE PROUDEST BLUE

BEFORE

Why do you think it is important to know the back story of the author? Find out more about Ibtihaj Muhammad and seek out some of her videos online.

What associations does the colour blue have for you? Why do you think blue might be an important colour in the story?

Find (or think of) different fabrics and materials – think about the uses for each one and find words to describe their feel and movement.

Look at the thumbnail of the cover – who do you think is in the picture? What might the blue represent? Where do you think the characters are going/looking at?

What does the word ‘proud’ mean?. When was someone proud of you? When were you proud of someone else?

DURING

Identify what a ‘hijab’ is and who might wear one. Explore other ethnic garments like sari, poncho, kimono, dirndl, kameez, gákti etc

Have you even bought a special set of clothes for special occasion? Why was this?

‘…there’s no line between the water and the sky.’ What do you think this means?

During a part of the book the characters whisper. Why do you think this might be?

How are the two girls being ‘strong’? What are the different ways of being ‘strong’?

AFTER

Who do you share a special bond with? Discuss the value of supportive and loving relationships.

Think about the idea of having an open mind and not having preconceptions. What ideas do we have about people (or even yourself) because of what we see on the outside or how a person talks?

What possessions might you be able to own once you are older? How might you act differently once you own them?

Do you have an older sibling or friend you look up to? Is there someone younger who looks up to you? Why might this be important as you are growing up?