Abdullah's Bear Needs a Name!

by Yasmin Hanif, Unknown Author

Abdullahs Bear Needs a Name! ABISBOOK Abdullahs Bear Needs a Name!.

Genres: Picture Books

Paperback

Reviews

[Kirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea behind this 28 page book, and the illustrations are pretty great too, but I felt like the story needed a little more depth to convey meaningful emotion, appreciation, and connection.  It starts with an Eid gift, but there is nothing tying it to the holiday after the first spread.  And while it shows both Islam and Desi culture in action, I wanted to hear the stories of his family, and the connection to his culture that helps him name his bear.  I also feel like the premise was a little rocky, did everyone get family heirlooms for gifts? Did they get other gifts? Why was he gifted this special stuffed toy and not his older or younger siblings? Would a kid really be that excited to get a hand me down stuffed bear? Once you read the author's intent, and the inspiration for the story, an adult could connect the dots and help a reader recognize the internalized othering being overcome, and discuss it, but I don't know if all kids would not pick a cultural name for a toy, or see that Abdullah didn't consider reflective names either.

The book starts with the reader dropped into an Eid day celebration.  Abdullah is handed a gift by his parents and when he unwraps it he finds himself the new owner of an old well-loved teddy bear.  His father was the previous owner, but refuses to tell Abdullah the bear's name, urging him to discover it on his own.

Abdullah loves the bear, and takes it with him to the store, to school, to cricket, to madrasa Everywhere he goes he tries out names: old names at the museum, classmates names, but nothing seems to fit.  When his Abba tells him a story about his grandfather, he finally finds the perfect name for his bear.

I really like the details in the illustrations, they bring the story to life and feel authentic: the store names, the Eid spread, the activities.  I feel like this book is so close to being a standout, but I don't know that kids who don't find themselves exactly in Abdullah's mindset, would be able to relate and connect to what transpires.  Unfortunately, it is unclear if he grows and learns from the experience, or if it was contained to this one incident. 

[Barbara Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and necessary book, Abdullah’s Bear Needs a Name by Scottish-Pakistani author Yasmin Hanif is out from Floris Books soon and tells the tale of a very special bear. When Abdullah is gifted his Abba’s old teddy and encouraged to name the toy himself, he struggles. What could be the right name? Amid his weekly routines and encounters, he seeks for inspiration. But only his family’s tales from overseas lead him to a name that feels right in his heart.

It is wonderful when Scottish children from all cultural backgrounds see themselves reflected in stories and recognise both themselves and others in the books they read. This gorgeous picture book, illustrated by Sophie Benmouyal, is an encouraging step on that journey.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Abdullah, nothing could be more perfect for an Eid gift than his very own stuffed bear. Since it once belonged to his father, it's all the more special to him. There's just one problem: he can't figure out what to name his stuffy. While friends and family try to help, nothing sounds right to Abdullah. But then he figures out the perfect name after listening to his father share a story about his grandfather. Filled with emotional and cultural resonance, this picture book encourages youngsters to honor their own heritage. I wish that the author had included more of the grandfather's story of bravery. The snippet that was included made me curious to learn more.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Abdullah is gifted his father's childhood teddy bear for Eid, he loves him immediately...whatever his name is. Abba (Abdullah's father) tells him he must name the bear himself, but so many choices! How will Abdullah know which name is the perfect one for his beloved bear? Will he find it among family and friends, at school, or at the museum? Is it a girl or boy name? An old-fashioned name?

This is a delightful story about honoring your family and those who came before you, and the illustrations are absolutely adorable. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts off with a teddy bear being passed down to Abdullah, but no one will tell him the teddy's name - because he has to discover it for himself!

Abdullah tries out several different names for his bear, but nothing quite feels right... until Abdullah's dad tells him stories about his own childhood adventures and companions.

Honestly, this book had a lot of potential, especially around the premise of meaningful names of cultural significance - but the execution fell flat and missed the mark. I wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't done as well as it could have been.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. I love how Abdullah was so serious about finding the bear's actual name. He considered new names, old names, girl names, boy names, and family names until he found one that spoke to his heart. And of course, the name was absolutely perfect. I love that this is a cultural book that is still relatable to many children. Eid, Christmas, birthdays. every kid can relate to getting a special gift they want to take extra care of and kids need more exposure to stories from all cultures.

[Leann Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my 9 year old. It was a fun way to teacher her new cultural things and to show how other people celebrate different holidays. We especially enjoyed the different names that were attempted with the bear before he settled on the perfect one. 10/10 would recommend. Also really appreciated the definitions at the end so we could talk about the things we learned and the new words that were in the book that we didn't know.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abdullah is given his father‘s bear as in Eid present. But his father says I’m not going to tell you his name, you’ll know it when the time comes. So Abdullah and his friends try to think of what the bear‘s name is. It’s only after listening to stories of his family and his culture that the name comes to him. This is an interesting story. I like the idea behind it. The artwork is nice. It feels a little dated but works quite well.

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abdullah's Bear Needs A Name by @florisbooks is a powerful, lighthearted, fun, and creative read! This beautiful book highlights the importance of representation. One young boy is passed down a special bear from his father and asked to find its name by searching his heart. I love that this book shows the importance of upholding family history and culture.

[Shireen Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute adventure story about an Eid gift. Thank you Edelweiss for the digital review copy.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful picture book celebrates South Asian culture, families, and names.