Yasmin the Explorer

Yasmin #2

by Saadia Faruqi, Hatem Aly (Illustrator)

Every explorer needs a map! Baba encourages Yasmin to make one of her own. But when Yasmin loses sight of Mama at the farmer's market, can her map bring them back together?

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Cultural, Chapter Books, Fiction

25 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2018

About the author

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series “Yasmin” published by Capstone and other books for children, including middle grade novels “A Place At The Table” (HMH/Clarion 2020) co-written with Laura Shovan, and “A Thousand Questions” (Harper Collins 2020). She has also written “Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan” a short story collection for adults and teens. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose, and was featured in Oprah Magazine in 2017 as a woman making a difference in her community. She resides in Houston, TX with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to elementary-age classrooms (3rd/4th and then 1st/2nd) at an Islamic school. In both classrooms, the response as I was reading was an excited, "She [me] just said 'hijab!'" and then, "That means Yasmin is Muslim!" Then when I told them that there were facts and information about Pakistan and Urdu in the back, they flipped. It was a delight and now I want all of the Yasmin books in my life and my library.

[Arielfranchakyahoo.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5 year old daughter fell in love with this book even before I had a chance to read it to her! I can’t blame her, just by looking at the adorable cover, with the wide-eyed, excited Yasmin, and perusing through the vivid illustrations, I can see how any child could be instantly drawn to this early reader. When I read the book to her, I also fell in love with this sweet and entertaining story.

Yasmin decides she wants to be an explorer and draws a map of her neighborhood. She goes to the farmers market with her mom, runs to the park, and ends up getting lost. She uses the map she created to find her way back to her mother. After the story is finished, there are wonderful features in the back of the book. There are discussion questions, perfect for a young child, (Think About It, Talk About It), a glossary with Urdu words (Urdu is the language that Yasmin and her family speak), facts about Pakistan (where Yasmin and her family are from) and a recipe for Mango Lassi (a yogurt drink popular in Pakistan). I love the extra features at the end of this book because they bring an element of nonfiction into this beautifully written, realistic fiction early chapter book.

Since I received a copy of this book to review and share with other members of my group, I must send this book off to the next #LitReviewCrew member. But, I already purchased YASMIN THE EXPLORER for my daughter and plan to buy more books in this wonderful series! I think we’ll also try the recipe for Mango Lassi too!

[Tegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book addresses an important topic that happens to many kids: getting lost. I really liked Yasmin as a character and like her creativity. Monarch 2020 nominee.

[Brenda Kahn]

Sweet early reader about getting lost and found when Yasmin, a Pakistani American girl is inspired by maps her baba is reading, to make her own. She brings it when she goes to market with mama and uses it to orient herself when she gets lost. Energetic, inviting, colorful illustrations. Large font size and plenty of white space for newly emergent readers. Nice addition.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short nice children's book. A nice introduction to Pakistani culture.

[Dannie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yasmin is the best and anyone who wants to tell me otherwise is wrong. This is just another amazing installment in her dynamite series. I love the Urdu words in the back.

[Sydney Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great early book for introducing maps to students. Yasmin is a creative young girl who includes intriguing colorful illustrations aimed toward elementary students. Through this story, we also see glimpses of Pakistani culture and different Urdu vocabulary. This book introduces different problem solving strategies if lost and helps build a connection into a less common culture represented within most classrooms. Was a great read!

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that a bigger teaching lesson was lost this time around. Which is that there should have been an explanation that explorers don't "discover" new lands. They merely record and chart them and the inhabitants. It would have been additionally beneficial to talk about how "explorers" have historically been the tools for colonialism. I know that in every other book I've read Yasmin is a girl living with her family navigating hwr world as many other children do and that is all. But since this story tackles exploration by mentioning the past, a fair representation needs to be told.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great early reader for introducing maps, Pakistani culture and how to find your way back if you get lost. It was a favorite book while we had it home from the library and I look forward to checking out the other books from this series in the future.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is darling. I think when we read it I'm going to see if I can get the kids to draw maps of their neighborhoods. Very cute.

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Yasmin and her adventures. This volume really teaches kids what to do if they're lost and the importance of paying attention and not leaving your parent's side.

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute series

[Mattie]

Yasmin the Explorer is a book in a series about Yasmin, a young girl with Pakistani parents, who tries different activities. In this book, Yasmin wants to be an explorer and she learns how to create and read maps. But when she loses her mum at the market, she needs to use her explorer skills to find her again.

Yasmin the Explorer is an own-voices story from a Pakistani American author. The book contains references to Pakistani culture and some Urdu words. In the back of the book, there is a glossary explaining some basic Urdu words and a page featuring facts about Pakistan. This would be a great book to introduce the idea of different cultures and help your child to understand how people live differently.

The story is engaging and fast paced with beautiful illustrations to complement the text. The theme of this book is getting lost, something many young readers will be able to relate to. The book features a page in the back to challenge the reader's comprehension of the book and reflect on the topics raised by the story.

Ideal for: young readers aged 5-7.

As a turquoise banded book, this story contains short and medium length sentences and basic vocabulary with a couple of challenging words. The book features illustrations to accompany the text, although the text is the main focus of the book. This book is best read with support from a parent or teacher who can prompt the reader to sound out unfamiliar words and test their comprehension.

[Amy Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it hard to rate this book. The story is simple, a girl gets lost at the market and uses her map to try to retrace her steps and find her mother. Kind of vanilla as far as stories go. However, what this offers children is important. This is an easy reader chapter book that new independent readers can be successful with. It also provides a positive representation of a Pakistani-American family. My students had a great discussion about culture. Finally, the pages at the end with discussion questions, facts about Pakistan and learning Urdu were very intriguing to my students. This is a welcome addition to the very diverse student population I serve.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/7/2019 ~ One of the stories included in Meet Yasmin. It seems that the publisher took the four stories from Meet Yasmin and broke them up into four different books. It think this makes sense for the age of the reader the stories are intended for. This series will be a perfect addition step up for children who are ready for more than Elephant and Piggie but not yet ready for longer Early Chapter Books like Owl Diaries or Notebook of Doom.

Yasmin is a character with just enough independence, frustration, and then success. I also appreciate that the family is Pakistani-American, but that is not an issue in the book. There are informational pages at the end with some Urdu words and facts about Pakistan.

[Kenna Coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in series of early reader chapter books for students who are developing their reading stamina. Its the story of a young pakastani girl and her family learning what it means to explore safely while still having fun in her community. The story contains pictures however there are far more words then pictures. The Story also contains words in the charaters first language with a glossary in the back, the picutres used aid the words of her native language rather then the story itself. Great for kindergarten through second third graders or anyone who is developing thier reading skills. Great book for representing all the different studnets in your classroom.

[Oak Lawn Public Library - Youth Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Yasmin the Explorer
Author: Saadia Farqui
Illustrator: Hatem Aly
Pages: 25
Lexile: 470L
Comments: This easy reader book is one of several of Farqui and Aly’s titles about young Pakistani-American girl Yasmin. Told in English along with a sprinkling of words in Urdu (a Pakistani language), this story introduces Yasmin’s interest in maps and exploration. It comes in handy later at the farmer’s market; when she is separated from her mother, Yasmin is able to find her way back with her own hand-drawn map. Some facts, Urdu definitions, and even a recipe round out the experience.
Reviewed by: Mr. Tom

[Meredith Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so sweet and practical for my first graders. It was a little lesson within an early chapter book: Here’s how you look at and create a map and how you could actually use one. The fact that this portrays a Muslim girl is icing on the cake. Way to represent. Well done. We will be reading all of these books.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting lost is a nerve wracking prospect for both parents and children. Yasmin’s example of keeping calm and looking methodically for her mother is very valuable. Also, Yasmin spotting her mother’s hijab is a satisfying solution that leaves the reader at peace; it puts both children of different backgrounds in the mind of a Pakistani-American girl, letting them see how this little girl solves the universal problem of spotting one’s grownup in a crowded public place.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright, energetic Yasmin wants to be an explorer. She works hard at creating a map of her neighborhood, adding to it during a trip to the farmer's market with her mother. It's a good thing she does - as the map she creates may just save her when she gets lost! A refreshing new beginner reader series with fun illustrations and a worthy add to diverse kid lit.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"'Don't forget your map!' Baba said. 'Every explorer needs a map.'" Yasmin turns a trip out to the market with her mom into an adventure, but when she runs off and loses her mom, she realizes a valuable lesson. This book introduced my daughter to hijabs.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story of Yasmin and her interest in exploring. She makes a map of the neighborhood, which comes into use when she loses her mother at the market.
Not only cute story with diversity but the book also contains "book club" type questions and information about Pakistan.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice addition to the early reader genre and nice to have a Pakistani-American character. Also a map-loving character!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl keeps her wits about her and finds her way back to her mother when she becomes lost. Mango lassi ❤️🥤🇵🇰

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Heroine

[Emily Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy

[Heather Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monarch 2020 nominee: While this sparked good conversations with my littles about what to do when lost, I didn’t love the story.

[Todd Freer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a young Pakistani girl who learns the excitement of exploring her surroundings as well as the importance of telling an adult (your parents) where you are going.

[Mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book! She was really excited to see the mother wearing a hijab, and that the father was called "baba". Representation matters!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monarch Award Nominee 2020