Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Unsurprisingly, everyone in the class laughed at my name. I was in grade twelve, completely out of my depth in a new country among strange people, thousands of kilometres away from everyone and everything familiar to me. In addition to producing children’s literature, she invests her time in mentorship of aspiring children’s book authors through multiple programs including We Need Diverse Books: Black Creatives Fund and the Muslim Storytellers Fellowship of the Highlights Foundation where she is also a committee member.On my first day in school in Canada, the teacher told the kids in class that my name was 'Napija' despite me telling him my name very carefully before class started. Her upcoming books include Abdul’s Story and Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children. These works include Mommy’s Khimar and Irma Black Award Honor Book, Your Name is a Song. Her picture books and middle grade fiction, which feature young Black and Muslim protagonists, have been recognized as the best in children’s literature by Time Magazine, Read Across America, and NPR. As an inaugural AMAL fellow with the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC), she developed foundational curricular frameworks for youth and adult anti-racist programming. A former English teacher, she educated children and teens in traditional and alternative learning settings for more than 15 years. Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, M.S.Ed, is a Philadelphia-based, award-winning children’s book author.

Publisher : Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for You With a universal message of love and community, this book offers a beautiful representation of a too-often-overlooked cultural group.” –Kirkus Reviews – starred review, February 15, 2018 “At the core of the story is the love between the girl and her mother….The words are often lyrical, and the story artfully includes many cultural details that will delight readers who share the cheerful protagonist’s culture and enlighten readers who don’t. Charming and vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the diverse and welcoming community in this portrait of a young Muslim American girl’s life. “A khimar is a flowing scarf that my mommy wears.īefore she walks out the door each day, she wraps one around her head.”Ī young girl plays dress up with her mother’s headscarves, feeling her mother’s love with every one she tries on.

Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow