Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and Aaliya Jaleel
Hello, Hena Khan!
Hena: Hello! I’m so delighted to be back
here with you again and to share this book with you.
I’m delighted you are here to
share Under My Hijab with me and the world.
Hello, Aaliya Jaleel!
Aaliya: Hi Mr. Schu, thank you so much for
having us! It’s a pleasure to be here.
It is a pleasure to have you here. Thank you
for stopping by to celebrate Under My Hijab’s beautiful cover.
I wrote the words in purple, and Hena wrote the words in black.
Under My Hijab tells the
story of a young girl and the inspiring women and older girls in her life, who
wear the hijab in distinct ways that reflect their personalities and styles. It
helps to demystify this often misunderstood piece of cloth, and instead
celebrates the modern, independent, educated, and diverse American Muslim women
who choose to wear it with elegance and dignity. At the same time, the book is
lighthearted and fun, with friendly rhyming text and bright and lively
illustrations—and it’s not overly instructional!
Aaliya Jaleel’s illustrations are
simply stunning, and everything I hoped they would be and more. She brings the
characters to life on every spread, with the perfect balance of warmth and joy.
I love the fact that the illustrations portray a modern interracial American
Muslim family, and that elements like the décor and backgrounds will be
familiar to everyone. Aaliya’s art subtly reinforces the idea that Muslims are
American, and that we share in American culture, rather than overemphasizing
immigrant roots. And her whimsical touches and rich details invite readers to
linger over the pages for a while and savor the experience.
Picture books are the magical
result of artistic collaboration. As a picture book writer, I’m always amazed
to see my words transformed and elevated by the illustrations, blended together
for the perfect storytelling experience. Picture books offer readers something
new every time they look at them, whether they choose to focus on aspects of
the art or the language, and immerse themselves into a different world for a
few pages.
I wrote the words in purple, and Aaliya wrote the words in green.
Hena Khan’s manuscript for Under My Hijab was everything I needed as a child, being
self-conscious about my faith and my appearance. I hope this book helps others
to better understand the diversity of women that wear the hijab as well as give
confidence to the young girls that don’t quite see themselves represented in
media yet.
Under My Hijab’s
cover is a work of love between everyone involved. Having our beloved main
character wearing the hijab so proudly and depicting it in a positive light is
an important image during these politically turbulent times.
Picture books are connections to places and worlds, but most
importantly, people.
Look for Under My Hijab on January 22, 2019.
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