Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring tale of girl who follows her dream and succeeds.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
NOT YET: THE STORY OF AN UNSTOPPABLE SKATER focuses on the beginning of international figure skater Zahra Lari's sports career. After she watches the Disney movie Ice Princess at age 11, she decides that's the sport she must pursue, even though theres's only one rink in her desert country of United Arab Emirates and her family members tell her she's too old to start training, it's expensive, and she doesn't look like other skaters. But she's determined, and eventually gets the support of her dad and starts training at age 12.
Is It Any Good?
This lively glimpse at the beginning of Zahra Lari's figure skating career is an inspiring tale of passion and grit. Not Yet: The Story of an Unstoppable Skater ends when she's just begun, but the final spread of the story shows her as a mature champion with medals. The following author's note gives more details about her career and how she successfully advocated to have the rules changed to allow figure skaters to compete wearing a hijab. She writes that "although I was I was the first skater to compete in a hijab, I won't be the last."
Sara Alfageeh's creative illustrations are a marvel, with dream sequences showing Lari skating on an "icy oasis" in the desert and ice dancing with a spoon in her cereal bowl. The tail of her hot pink hijab becomes a character of its own, spelling out "Not yet" when she admits to her friend that she hasn't begun her dreamed-of skating lessons, and then flying high like a banner behind her when she finally does begin. It's not easy to capture the swirling grace and energy of a figure skater, but Alfageeh does it with verve.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Zahra's perseverance in Not Yet: The Story of an Unstoppable Skater. How did she find the strength to never give up on her dream, even when her uncle told her, "Figure skaters don't look like you"?
Is there a sport or activity you love? What would you like to do that you haven't done yet?
Which picture in the book is your favorite? Why?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Sara Alfageeh
- Genre : Picture Book
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Orchard Books
- Publication date : February 6, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 29, 2024
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