The Kindest Red: The Proudest Blue, Book 2
Kindness saves picture day in sweet, affirming sequel.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, author S.K. Ali, and illustrator Hatem Aly's The Kindest Red is a sequel to their acclaimed 2019 book, The Proudest Blue. Little sister Faizah narrates again, but this time it's all about the special red dress she gets to wear for picture day. When a class assignment leads to small and big acts of kindness at recess, Faiza has no idea that good deeds might just save her day when crisis strikes later at sibling photos. The book's vibrant pictures showcase a racially diverse community with a loving, Black Muslim family at its center. It has positive themes of friendship, kindness, and community care, and young role models who thoughtfully look for ways to help others. This sweet, hopeful book will be a great read-aloud for younger readers.
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What's the Story?
Little sister Faizah is excited about wearing a special red dress for picture day that once belonged to her sister and her mother before that. Big sis Asiya helps Faizah do her hair, and Faizah adds a sparkly pin to Asiya's hijab. Later, Faiza and her classmates are asked to imagine the world they want to live in and they're inspired to help one another throughout the day. When it's time for sibling photos, Faiza realizes with despair that she and Asiya don't match like all the other siblings. Can a bit more creative kindness save picture day for Faiza?
Is It Any Good?
This lovely, encouraging story will warm the hearts of little readers and their adults. While the picture day crisis at the center of The Kindest Red has a lighter tone than its predecessor, which dealt with overcoming anti-Muslim bias, this book's gentle lessons will empower youngsters to build a world that is fun, fair, and kind. Faiza as narrator allows readers to see how she connects the threads of kind acts from her family to kind acts with her classmates during the school day and into the world she wants to pass on to others. Aly's bold-color characters are contrasted against more muted backgrounds, showcasing the kindnesses and thoughtful problem solving that ultimately affirms Faiza and Asiya's faith and family traditions. A sweet, inspiring picture book for any kid's bookshelf.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the acts of kindness in The Kindest Red. Why do you think the author focused on kindness in this book? What happens when you're kind to others?
Faizah is excited about wearing the family's special red dress for picture day. Does your family have special items that you share on special occasions? What are they and why are they important to your family?
In the book, Faizah's teacher asks her class to imagine the world they want to live in. What kind of world do you want to live in? What can you do to create the world you want to live in?
Book Details
- Authors: Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali
- Illustrator: Hatem Aly
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: January 10, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: January 17, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
Vivid art, powerful story about sisters overcoming bigotry.
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Amira's Picture Day
Sweet story about juggling two important days of the year.
-
Be Kind
Warm story shows big impact of simple acts of kindness.
For kids who love family tales and stories with Muslim characters
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