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What Color is My Hijab?
What Color is My Hijab? is a children's picture book inspired by a question the author's elementary-school aged niece asked her. The little girl wanted to know why there weren't girls who look like her well represented in children's literature. Now there are. This book features Muslim women who work in a number of doctor, teacher, artist, politician, etc., all wearing their colorful hijabs.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published May 3, 2022
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 28, 2022
3.5 stars, update your books about color with publication from Beaver's Pond Press. You might find yourself wanting to wear a hijab after reading this.
July 8, 2021
Vibrant colors dance off the page of this beautiful picture book. But What Color Is My Hijab? does more than teach colors. Each color features a woman in her career and details traits the woman exhibits – and traits the young girl wishes to portray when she wears the color. The text is short, sweet, melodic – thus perfect for read-aloud.
December 13, 2020
This picture book is really lovely. It’s a fun color book and a book about interesting and successful women and a book about the different ways Muslim women wear a hijab. I would definitely read this during a story time. The text is clear and sweet (and not too much!); and the illustrations are bright and expressive. A lovely read!
May 24, 2021
Simple text structure, but strong representation of Muslim girls & hijab. Perfect Pairing with Under My Hijab and The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh!
May 30, 2024
Wonderful! 🤍💜🖤💛🧡🩷❤️💚🩵
November 10, 2020
The illustrations! They are so brilliant, bright, bold, and wonderful. Little girls will find much to identify with in this book. A subtle way to look at colors.
December 18, 2020
Beautiful picture book that shows strong women in different jobs wearing Hijab. Very empowering.
April 9, 2023
3.75
When this book arrived I flipped through it and loved that it tied hijab colors to careers, when I asked my seven your old to read it to my three year old and I overheard snippets, I was impressed that positive characteristics associated with the professions were articulated and embodied by the main character to inspire young girls everywhere. When I finally sat down to read the book my self, I enjoyed the joy, diversity, and backmatter, but unfortunately felt like a page was missing at the end. Over 32 pages the book introduces a color as seen on someone the narrator knows hijab, and identifies the woman's job and a couple of characteristics. The facing page highlights that when the girl wants to have strength or show kindness she too will wear that color hijab. The text on the first page and the last page is the same, "Hijab is the crown/I wear every day./It is worn many ways, and it comes in every color." I absolutely love the premise of the book, but it seems that the conclusion should perhaps broaden that we can be anything and everything no matter the color we wear. The blurb on the back of the book actually uses language of wearing "yellow, 'like' my doctor's hijab, brown 'like' my teacher's hijab," etc. that allows for a more interpretive and less literal view of I have to wear this color or that to be a leader or athlete or loving. I know I know, I'm probably overthinking it, but I've read the book so many times, and each time I just feel like the conclusion tying it together is missing and makes the book primarily a color book and thus preventing it from transcending into being more.
The book text is like a poem with the opening and conclusion reading the same. The patterned body of the book works very well in establishing the links between hijab, color, occupation, empowerment, characteristics and implementation. The pictures also allow the reader/listener to broaden their knowledge about various careers and see what they look like in action and what attributes they draw upon.
At times the wording gets a little loose with "give kindness" and "show wisdom" but the overall tone conveys the sentiment and allows for the stronger, "get results" and "be a leader" to balance out the flow of the book. The illustrations amplify the color being presented, but it is worth pointing out that the hijab's are all patterned and could be a little confusing to little readers. Similarly, the yellow hijabs appear more orange and the purple more pink.
I love that the book is authored by a Somali woman and that the illustrations show diversity (skin color, mobility, body shape), but focus on strong black women inspiring the young protagonist. The backmatter hints that it is the author's niece and also explains hijab, and hijab styles.
When this book arrived I flipped through it and loved that it tied hijab colors to careers, when I asked my seven your old to read it to my three year old and I overheard snippets, I was impressed that positive characteristics associated with the professions were articulated and embodied by the main character to inspire young girls everywhere. When I finally sat down to read the book my self, I enjoyed the joy, diversity, and backmatter, but unfortunately felt like a page was missing at the end. Over 32 pages the book introduces a color as seen on someone the narrator knows hijab, and identifies the woman's job and a couple of characteristics. The facing page highlights that when the girl wants to have strength or show kindness she too will wear that color hijab. The text on the first page and the last page is the same, "Hijab is the crown/I wear every day./It is worn many ways, and it comes in every color." I absolutely love the premise of the book, but it seems that the conclusion should perhaps broaden that we can be anything and everything no matter the color we wear. The blurb on the back of the book actually uses language of wearing "yellow, 'like' my doctor's hijab, brown 'like' my teacher's hijab," etc. that allows for a more interpretive and less literal view of I have to wear this color or that to be a leader or athlete or loving. I know I know, I'm probably overthinking it, but I've read the book so many times, and each time I just feel like the conclusion tying it together is missing and makes the book primarily a color book and thus preventing it from transcending into being more.
The book text is like a poem with the opening and conclusion reading the same. The patterned body of the book works very well in establishing the links between hijab, color, occupation, empowerment, characteristics and implementation. The pictures also allow the reader/listener to broaden their knowledge about various careers and see what they look like in action and what attributes they draw upon.
At times the wording gets a little loose with "give kindness" and "show wisdom" but the overall tone conveys the sentiment and allows for the stronger, "get results" and "be a leader" to balance out the flow of the book. The illustrations amplify the color being presented, but it is worth pointing out that the hijab's are all patterned and could be a little confusing to little readers. Similarly, the yellow hijabs appear more orange and the purple more pink.
I love that the book is authored by a Somali woman and that the illustrations show diversity (skin color, mobility, body shape), but focus on strong black women inspiring the young protagonist. The backmatter hints that it is the author's niece and also explains hijab, and hijab styles.
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June 15, 2021This book is fairly simple. Each 2-page spread has our child protagonist noting that she knows someone in a [color] hijab who is [a career] and [has attributes], so when she wants to [demonstrate attributes] she will wear a [color] hijab.
The first hijabi is an engineer, and the next one is an athlete. I appreciate the variety of work represented amongst the women (engineer, athlete, model, pilot, politician, doctor, artist, teacher, business owner, mother).
There's also a variety of skin tones and hijab styles among the depicted adults. And the teacher is a wheelchair user.
There are a couple odd phrasing moments ("give kindness", "show wisdom"), but there are also some particularly nice moments, like "When I want to be a leader," showing our child protagonist volunteering at a community kitchen.
I wouldn't necessarily use it to teach a kid colors (despite the fact that I read it because it was on a list of alternatives to Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors [see this IG post for an overview of why Dr. Seuss is canceled]) since the colors don't exactly pop. The hijabs are often patterned, which totally makes fashion sense, but which can make it difficult to point to a hijab and say, "This is [color]." There is a swoosh of the named color connecting the two pages, but the illustrations are busy enough that it doesn't feel intuitive to try to teach the colors using that. (Also, the yellow page has weird colors, imo. The hijabs look light orange, and the swoosh is a weirdly greenish shade of yellow.)
There's also some backmatter explaining some more about hijabs.
The first hijabi is an engineer, and the next one is an athlete. I appreciate the variety of work represented amongst the women (engineer, athlete, model, pilot, politician, doctor, artist, teacher, business owner, mother).
There's also a variety of skin tones and hijab styles among the depicted adults. And the teacher is a wheelchair user.
There are a couple odd phrasing moments ("give kindness", "show wisdom"), but there are also some particularly nice moments, like "When I want to be a leader," showing our child protagonist volunteering at a community kitchen.
I wouldn't necessarily use it to teach a kid colors (despite the fact that I read it because it was on a list of alternatives to Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors [see this IG post for an overview of why Dr. Seuss is canceled]) since the colors don't exactly pop. The hijabs are often patterned, which totally makes fashion sense, but which can make it difficult to point to a hijab and say, "This is [color]." There is a swoosh of the named color connecting the two pages, but the illustrations are busy enough that it doesn't feel intuitive to try to teach the colors using that. (Also, the yellow page has weird colors, imo. The hijabs look light orange, and the swoosh is a weirdly greenish shade of yellow.)
There's also some backmatter explaining some more about hijabs.
April 27, 2023
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An adorable story about one girl finding inspiration in the women she sees in her life. Flowing through various colors, Tima showcases women she admires and their special traits, associating each trait with the color of hijab the woman wears. Great variety of characteristics presented, from hardworking and stylish to smart and fast to caring and creative.
A great way to work on colors and action labels.
The artwork is fantastic. I loved the different patterns used on the hijabs and in the backgrounds. It was also nice to see a variety of characters with different skin tones, facial features, and other characteristics. There are characters who wear glasses, hijabi characters and non-Muslim characters, and someone who uses a wheelchair.
There is an additional section at the end that includes an author's note about representation and a short section about hijabs.
Such a sweet and inspirational story. I loved that Tima is not limited to being just one thing but explores various activities and traits such as showing wisdom, being a leader, sharing love, and solving problems.
An adorable story about one girl finding inspiration in the women she sees in her life. Flowing through various colors, Tima showcases women she admires and their special traits, associating each trait with the color of hijab the woman wears. Great variety of characteristics presented, from hardworking and stylish to smart and fast to caring and creative.
A great way to work on colors and action labels.
The artwork is fantastic. I loved the different patterns used on the hijabs and in the backgrounds. It was also nice to see a variety of characters with different skin tones, facial features, and other characteristics. There are characters who wear glasses, hijabi characters and non-Muslim characters, and someone who uses a wheelchair.
There is an additional section at the end that includes an author's note about representation and a short section about hijabs.
Such a sweet and inspirational story. I loved that Tima is not limited to being just one thing but explores various activities and traits such as showing wisdom, being a leader, sharing love, and solving problems.
April 28, 2021
This a beautiful picture book for young children to learn about colors and who wears a hijab. This is also a wonderful picture for girls who wear a hijab or will wear one in the future to see themselves in a children's picture book. It's inspiring for all girls because the reader gets to see many different women in different career paths. It's so cool how the main character wears a certain color to draw a specific strength from each career path and woman she learns about.
May 7, 2021
Kind of "identified the color" book. Good for kindergarten level. Very much an educational 'learn about this person and be tolerant'. If you're looking for a book that the child can read themselves, this would be a good fit
October 27, 2022
A young girl describes all of the inspirational women in her life and the colors of the hijabs they wear.
A lovely book to share with children. Includes information about hijabs and the religion of Islam.
A lovely book to share with children. Includes information about hijabs and the religion of Islam.
October 19, 2020
A cute story, written by a St. Cloud local.
October 16, 2021
I really loved this picture book by Minnesota author, Hudda Ibrahim! I am grateful to my friend and colleague, Cani for sharing this book with me.
January 20, 2022
A learn your color book with some cultural content.
September 14, 2022
simple and beautiful. a great addition to a color storytime.
February 7, 2023
Connecting colors to being bold and brave and strong!
August 27, 2024
A beautiful picture book about colors featuring a young girl choosing her hijab for the day, depending on how she feels that day. The illustrations are gorgeous.
May 13, 2025
Super cute and great for young girls, just not something I could read in storytime.
August 3, 2021
A great book! Love all differnet colors and different hijab styles...
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews