
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!