Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Celebrating Identity with The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad

At the Early Excellence Project, we believe in the power of books to help young readers embrace their own identities, understand the experiences of others, and celebrate diversity. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad, with illustrations by S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly, is a beautifully told story about confidence, family, and standing proud in who you are.

This heartfelt picture book follows two sisters, Faizah and Asiya, on Asiya’s first day of wearing a hijab to school. Through Faizah’s eyes, we see admiration, pride, and a realization that standing out can be a beautiful thing. However, the story also acknowledges the challenges of being different, teaching children the importance of resilience, kindness, and self-love.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner engage with the book’s themes while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

Introducing the Story: What Makes You Proud?

The Proudest Blue introduces children to the significance of the hijab in Muslim culture and highlights themes of pride, strength, and sisterhood. It is a powerful book that helps children reflect on their own identities and the importance of respecting others' traditions.

Start with These Questions:

• What is something about yourself that makes you feel proud?

• Have you ever worn something special that made you feel confident?

• How do you think Faizah feels about her sister’s hijab?

• Why is it important to be kind to others, even if they look or dress differently from us?

These questions help children connect to the story and think about their own experiences with confidence and identity.

Building Vocabulary Through Identity and Belonging

The language in The Proudest Blue introduces young readers to meaningful words related to self-expression, culture, and emotions.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Word Discovery – As you read, highlight words like "hijab," "proud," "strong," and "bold." Explain their meanings and encourage your child to use them in sentences.

• Emotion Matching – Discuss the emotions in the book, such as pride, curiosity, and resilience. Ask your child to describe times when they felt those emotions.

• Color Meanings – Talk about the significance of colors in clothing. Ask, "If you could wear a color that represents you, what would it be and why?"

These activities help build vocabulary while deepening a child’s connection to the book’s themes.

Confidence, Respect, and Identity

This book encourages young readers to embrace what makes them special and to stand up for themselves and others when faced with unkindness. It also fosters understanding of different cultural traditions.

Discussion Questions:

• What does Asiya’s blue hijab symbolize for her and her sister?

• How does Faizah react when some children are unkind about Asiya’s hijab?

• What does the book teach us about confidence?

• How can we be supportive and kind to others who wear clothing that is meaningful to them?

Encouraging these discussions helps children develop empathy and respect for diversity.

Creativity Through Art: What Makes You Shine?

Art is a powerful way for children to express their identity and celebrate what makes them unique.

Activity: "What Makes Me Proud?" Drawing

• Provide crayons, markers, and paper.

• Ask your child to draw a picture of something that makes them feel proud—whether it’s a special piece of clothing, a talent, or something they love about themselves.

• Encourage them to add words around their drawing that describe how it makes them feel.

• Display their artwork as a reminder to celebrate who they are.

This activity reinforces the book’s message about confidence and self-expression.

Reflection: How Do We Show Kindness and Respect?

One of the most important lessons in The Proudest Blue is that kindness and respect can make a big difference. Help your child reflect on ways they can support others and embrace differences.

Reflection Questions:

• How can we help someone feel proud of who they are?

• What would you do if you saw someone being teased for being different?

• Why is it important to respect the clothing or traditions of others?

These conversations help children practice kindness and think about how their actions impact others.

Celebrating Identity and Strength

The Proudest Blue is more than just a story about a first day of wearing a hijab—it’s a celebration of identity, confidence, and standing tall in the face of challenges. By engaging with the book’s themes and activities, children will build literacy skills while learning to embrace both their own uniqueness and the beauty in others.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and inspire your little learner to take pride in who they are. Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Understanding Others with Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña

At the Early Excellence Project, we believe books can help young learners develop empathy, imagination, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, with stunning illustrations by Christian Robinson, is a powerful story that encourages children to think beyond first impressions and recognize the complexities in every person’s story.

This book follows Milo, a young boy traveling on the subway, who observes the people around him and imagines what their lives might be like. As he sketches his ideas, he begins to realize that people are more than what they appear to be on the outside. This beautifully written story offers a meaningful lesson about curiosity, compassion, and challenging assumptions.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner engage with the book’s themes while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

Seeing Beyond First Impressions

Milo watches the people on his subway ride and creates stories about their lives, based on what he sees. But as he reflects on his own situation, he realizes that his drawings might not tell the full story—just like the way people see him doesn’t tell everything about who he is.

This book encourages children to think about the power of imagination while also exploring how we see and understand others.

Start with These Questions:

• Have you ever wondered what someone else’s life is like?

• How do we form ideas about people we don’t know?

• Why do you think it’s important to learn about someone’s story before making a judgment?

• How does your imagination help you understand the world?

These questions help children think critically about perspective and empathy before reading the book.

Building Vocabulary Through Observation and Imagination

Milo Imagines the World introduces rich vocabulary related to creativity, emotions, and perception.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Descriptive Words – As you read, point out words like "observe," "imagine," "assumption," and "perspective." Discuss what they mean and how they relate to the story.

• Guess the Story – Before turning the page, ask your child to predict what Milo might imagine next based on the illustrations.

• Imagination Challenge – Pick an everyday object or person and encourage your child to describe or draw what they think their story might be.

These activities help young learners expand their vocabulary while practicing creative thinking.

Exploring Story Themes: Looking Deeper

A key theme in Milo Imagines the World is that people are more than what they seem at first glance. This is an important lesson for developing kindness and understanding.

Discussion Questions:

• Why does Milo draw pictures of the people he sees?

• How do his ideas about the people change by the end of the story?

• Have you ever made an assumption about someone and then learned something different about them?

• How can we get to know people’s real stories?

Helping children reflect on these questions encourages them to think beyond appearances and recognize the depth of every individual’s experience.

Creativity Through Art: Drawing Stories

Just like Milo, children can use drawing and storytelling to explore their thoughts and ideas about the world.

Activity: "Imagine a Story" Drawing

• Provide crayons, markers, and paper.

• Have your child draw a picture of someone they see regularly but don’t know well (a neighbor, a bus driver, a cashier).

• Ask them to imagine and describe what this person’s life might be like.

• Afterward, discuss how their ideas might be similar to or different from reality.

This activity helps children develop storytelling skills while reinforcing the book’s message about looking beyond first impressions.

Reflection: How Can We Learn About Others?

Milo Imagines the World teaches an important lesson about understanding others by listening to their stories instead of making assumptions.

Reflection Questions:

• What is something about you that people might not know just by looking at you?

• How do we learn about people’s real stories?

• Why is it important to be kind and curious instead of making quick judgments?

Encouraging children to think about these questions helps them develop empathy and social awareness.

Encouraging Imagination and Understanding

Milo Imagines the World is more than just a story about a boy on a subway—it’s a lesson in seeing people fully, thinking deeply, and imagining beyond what we see at first glance. Through creative storytelling and thoughtful discussions, young learners can build literacy skills while learning to approach the world with kindness and curiosity.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and encourage your little learner to use their imagination in new ways. Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Embracing Identity & Belonging with The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize the importance of emotional well-being, self-acceptance, and belonging. At the Early Excellence Project, we know that books play a powerful role in helping children navigate big emotions, develop confidence, and build connections with others.

This month, we’re featuring The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, a beautifully written and illustrated book that encourages children to embrace what makes them unique while finding common ground with others. Through its heartfelt message, this book reassures young readers that even when they feel different, they are not alone.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner connect with the book’s themes while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

Finding Self Acceptance in Who You Are

In The Day You Begin, a young girl named Angelina feels out of place when she realizes her experiences are different from those of her classmates. She worries that no one will understand her, but as she listens to others and shares her own story, she discovers that everyone has felt like an outsider at some point, and that our differences are what make us special.

This message is especially important during Mental Health Awareness Month, as children may experience moments of self-doubt, loneliness, or uncertainty. Books like The Day You Begin help young learners develop emotional resilience, self-acceptance, and empathy for others.

Start with These Questions:

• Have you ever felt nervous or different in a new place?

• How do you feel when someone listens to your story?

• What are some things that make you special?

• Why do you think it’s important to be kind to ourselves and others?

  
  

These questions help children recognize their emotions and prepare them to engage with the book’s themes.

Building Vocabulary Through Feelings and Connection

The language in The Day You Begin introduces young readers to words that help them understand and express their emotions.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Emotion Words – As you read, point out words like "brave," "nervous," "welcome," and "connection." Talk about what they mean and how they relate to real-life experiences.

• Facial Expressions Game – Say a word like "shy" or "excited," and have your child make a face that matches the emotion.

• Storytelling with Feelings – Encourage your child to tell a short story about a time they felt proud, included, or nervous.

These activities help children name their emotions and build social-emotional awareness, which is a key part of mental health development.

The Power of Sharing Our Stories

One of the most important messages in The Day You Begin is that we all have unique experiences, and sharing them can help us feel understood and connected.

Conversation Starters:

• How did Angelina feel at the beginning of the story?

• What helped her feel more comfortable?

• How do you think listening to others’ stories makes them feel?

• What are some ways we can help others feel included and welcomed?

Encouraging children to reflect on their own experiences and emotions fosters self-awareness and helps them build stronger relationships with others.

Creativity Through Art: Drawing Feelings and Stories

Art is a wonderful way for children to express their emotions and personal experiences.

Activity: "My Story, My Feelings" Collage

• Provide crayons, markers, magazines, and glue.

• Ask your child to create a collage or drawing that represents who they are—their favorite activities, family traditions, or places they love.

• Encourage them to add words that describe how these things make them feel (happy, safe, excited, loved).

• Display their artwork to celebrate their unique story.

This activity reinforces the book’s message that every child’s experience matters and that expressing emotions in creative ways is a healthy way to support mental well-being.

Reflection: How Do We Take Care of Our Emotions?

Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to teach children how to recognize and care for their emotions.

Reflection Questions:

• What are some things that help you feel happy and calm?

• How do you feel when someone listens to you?

• What is something kind you can say to yourself when you feel nervous?

Encouraging children to talk about their emotions helps them develop lifelong skills for managing feelings, building self-confidence, and developing empathy for others.

Encouraging Self-Acceptance and Connection

The Day You Begin is a gentle yet powerful reminder that even when we feel different, we are never truly alone. By sharing our stories, listening to others, and embracing what makes us unique, we can create a world where everyone feels valued and included.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s especially important to remind children that their feelings matter and that they are surrounded by people who care about them. We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and help your little learner build confidence in who they are.

Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!