This large 10 x 10 inch, 24 page rhyming normalization and celebration of niqab, is loads of fun. Seriously, the book is delightfully told by a child with full confidence and love for his amazing mom who wears niqab.  The book does not go into why she wears it, but addresses some of the stereotypes as it smashes through them.  The book is meant for toddlers, but is such a good reminder for Muslims and non Muslims that what you see on the outside, is just a tiny piece of all that a person is, feels, and is capable of.  I do wish there was some Islam in the book, or mention that she wears it outside her home, as the illustrations show her wearing it all the time, but I get that, that would overly complicate such a joyous concept book. There is a scannable QR code to hear the audiobook included, and no faces are shown in the illustrations.

The book is really just rhyming lines of a little boy proclaiming how fabulous his niqabi mom is, and what she does that makes her amazing like all moms.  It does empower that what she wears is her choice and does not limit her, and that he recognizes that she is different.  But there is no apologizing or over explaining, which keeps the tone exactly where it should be for praising of his dragon slaying, mountain climbing mom, who happens to wear niqab, and doesn’t mind when people ask her how she eats (but no, it doesn’t answer that question).

So good to see niqab being celebrated in a picture book through the lens of a mother and her child.