Meet Yasmin!

by Saadia Faruqi, Hatem Aly (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn't get too big, of course! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684360222
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2018
Series:	Yasmin Series , #16
Edition description:	Combined
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	29,157
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American writer, interfaith activist, and cultural sensitivity trainer featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. She is the the author of the Yasmin series and also writes middle grade novels, such as Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero, and other books for children. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, an online magazine of poetry, short stories, and art. Besides writing books, she also loves reading, binge-watching her favorite shows, and taking naps. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her family.

Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator whose work has been featured in multiple publications worldwide. He currently lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada, with his wife, son, and more pets than people. When he is not dipping cookies in a cup of tea or staring at blank pieces of paper, he is usually drawing books. One of the books he illustrated is The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz, which won a Newbery Honor and other awards despite Hatem’s drawings of a farting dragon, a two-headed cat, and stinky cheese.

Interviews

for fans of Katie Woo!; an early reader featuring a Muslim, Pakistani American girl and her family; Own Voices author and illustrator team; a strong girl character with a knack for solving problems in unique ways; subtly weaves Muslim traditions into fun, relatable stories; series included on Girls of the Crescent Recommended Reading List

Editorial Reviews

08/13/2018
In this first installment of an early chapter book series, Pakistani-American Yasmin is an audacious second-grader whose abundant curiosity leads her to new discoveries, trials, and mishaps. In the first of four episodes, Yasmin is inspired to become an explorer after observing maps in her father’s book. She decides to make a map of the neighborhood, which she consults when she is parted from her mother during a trip to the farmer’s market. In subsequent stories, Yasmin becomes frustrated during school projects but ultimately finds unique ways to contribute. And in the final tale, “Yasmin the Fashionista,” she accidentally tears her mother’s colorful kameez while trying it on, but once again employs problem-solving skills. Faruqi writes in clear, vivid text and in digestible chapters, incorporating references to Pakistani culture and customs. In brightly colored artwork by Aly (The Inquisitor’s Tale), Yasmin’s wide-eyed expressions and flamboyant style (striped tights, a polka-dotted painter’s smock, red cowgirl boots) lend her great appeal. Ages 5–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Yasmin Ahmad is a second grader who loves to explore, paint, build and more. She’s brave and adventurous in everything she does: making maps, creating messes, discovering new things. Most of all, she’s a problem solver.

Barnes & Noble Kids

Meet your new favorite second grader! Whether she’s visiting the farmer’s market with her mama or creating a fashion show with her nani, Yasmin is an adventurer and a problem solver. Hatem Aly’s lively illustrations perfectly capture Yasmin’s exuberant personality at school and at home with her family. Be sure to add this charmer to your beginning reader’s bookshelf!

2018 Buyers Guide Wild Rumpus

...a great read to recommend to transitional chapter book readers.

Literacy on the Mind

It’s nice when you get a book that knows how to sell itself. Just look at Hatem Aly’s art here. Dude knows what he’s doing, and what he’s doing is sucking you into reading Ms. Faruqi’s tales of Yasmin and her family. I don’t need to tell you that contemporary Muslim-American stories aren’t exactly commonplace quite yet. This book marks a peppy, colorful, thoroughly enjoyable step in the right direction.

A Fuse 8 Production

This is a fun early reader, great for kids interested in strong female characters having realistic adventures. . . .Meet Yasmin! also does a great job of incorporating the main character's Pakistani American heritage in small ways throughout the stories. . . .With expressive illustrations by Hatem Aly, short, easy to read chapters, and a main character with a plucky personality and strong problem-solving skills, Meet Yasmin! is a good choice for early readers in search of a contemporary story full of realistic adventures and a lot of fun. Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

...a fun chapter book that should join the likes of Jasmine Toguchi by Debbi Michiko Florence and Lola Levine by Monica Brown.

Book Riot

In this joyful, reassuring series, a second-grader solves typical kid problems like getting separated from her parents when they’re shopping, and spilling on her clothes. Faruqi, who was born in Pakistan, integrates the country’s customs into the plots. Full-color illustrations throughout make this series even more engaging, says Parents advisor Jennifer Serravallo, author of The Reading Strategies Book. 12 books, ages 5 to 8

Parents

Yasmin and her family, who speak both English and Urdu, are Pakistani American, and Faruqi incorporates elements of Pakistani customs into the text; the book even closes with a few Urdu words, as well as facts about Pakistan. Yasmin’s adventures and dilemmas, however, are universal elementary-aged ones, as she overcomes artist’s block for an art competition, finds her own creative conclusion to a frustrating building project in school, and more. With each adventure, she gains more confidence and discovers new things about herself and her world, as inquisitive second-graders are wont to do. Faruqi captures Yasmin’s ups-and-downs with precise, economic language, and Aly’s vivid illustrations capture Yasmin’s world.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

What an adorable main character! . . .I LOVE the diversity, the gutsy main-character, and the beautiful design of the entire book.

Imagination Soup

I took the book to my story time at the library and it got a room full of thumbs up.

A Crafty Arab

Four brief stories make up this first installment about curious and spirited Yasmin. The charming art will draw in readers.

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Young readers are going to relate to many of the situations that Yasmin finds herself in. . . .Many readers are also going to appreciate the cultural details that Saadia seamlessly weaves into her story. . . .Meet Yasmin! is well crafted for beginning readers, with a crisp focus on problem and resolution, a small cast of characters for new readers to learn, and an engaging main character. Hand this to readers who like relatable, funny stories with short chapters.

Great Kid Books

Pakistani American author Faruqi makes her kidlit debut with this early chapter book introducing plucky second-grader Yasmin, who approaches life’s problems with imagination and verve. . . .Both author and illustrator do a good job integrating Pakistani and Muslim cultural details into the story: Mom is depicted with and without a hijab, and Urdu words appear throughout. Appended with discussion questions, an Urdu glossary, Pakistani facts, a recipe, and a craft, this should be a welcome addition to the transitional-reader shelf.

Booklist Online

Yasmin is an adorable and relatable character who manages to get herself into trouble or find herself stuck with a problem, but also finds a way out by using her creativity and smarts, which, hello, I love.

Girls Read the World

No matter what challenge Yasmin faces, she uses her curiosity, imagination, and the support of her family to tackle it.

BookRiot

Yasmin and her Pakistani American family will delight you. Yasmin shares her problem-solving skills in creative and inventive ways. . . .MEET YASMIN is a welcome addition to the chapter book market. I look forward to reading more of Yasmin’s trials and learning how she tackles them. I’m sure kids will too!

Kidliterati

...looks at the adventures of a  bright, intelligent young girl and her multi-generational Pakistani American family.

The International Examiner

Books should be windows and mirrors*, and Meet Yasmin is that for many children around the world. We think every classroom should have a copy of this book in their library.

Story Mamas

The cultural and religious references are placed unobtrusively in the background. . . .The fact that her mom grabs her purse and her hijab when she’s getting ready to leave the house and that her dad calls her jaan are just normal parts of Yasmin’s life and a normal part of the fabric of American life. . . .these are fun stories that everyone can enjoy.

Muslim Reads

I am always searching for chapter books that will appeal to young readers who are looking for those longer books. . . . .I am thrilled to have a series that features characters that are brown-skinned and introduces us to a different language, traditions and culture. Yasmin is a Pakistani-American and while growing up in America, also keeps some Pakistani traditions in her home. So while the situations are familiar (figuring out what to build, accidentally ripping clothing, creating a work of art, exploring) they are infused with potentially new words for readers, such as hijab, Baba, and sari.

Mrs. Knott's Book Nook

While each story tackles a problem, the conflict doesn’t arise from Yasmin’s cultural identity. The plots are universally relatable, for Yasmin faces challenges that every kid has gone through. . . .There’s some very clever writing going here, where the cultural information is prominent but never obtrusive. . . .Each story is brimming with heart.

The Aerogram

Young readers who like a spunky, take-charge main character need to MEET YASMIN, by Saadia Faruqi.

From the Mixed-Up Files

★ 07/01/2018
Gr 1–3—Yasmin Ahmad is exploring the world around her with eagerness and curiosity. Yasmin learns about ancient explorers and mapmaking from her Baba, prompting her to explore the local farmer's market and plan out her journey. She also transforms into a fashionista when she's with her Nani, trying on her Mama's embroidered kameez and satin hijab. As she delves into new experiences, Yasmin also faces some common childhood fears and develops creative solutions on her own. Faruqi introduces readers to a delightful new beginning reader series that features an imaginative second grader who will quickly become a favorite among emergent readers. Aly's animated illustrations are the perfect complement to the text and bring Yasmin and her beloved family to life. The author includes back matter, such as vocabulary in Urdu as well as facts about Pakistan. VERDICT A definite purchase for any beginning reader collection.—Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Library, CA

School Library Journal

★ 2018-05-28
In Faruqi's debut for children, transitioning readers watch a fun, curious, and creative Pakistani-American girl solve problems and have adventures.Four separate sections give Yasmin lots of opportunities. "Yasmin the Explorer" makes a map of her neighborhood and uses it when she goes to the farmers market with her mother. "Yasmin the Painter" doesn't know what to create for the art contest at school, but when she tinkers with a paint set gifted to her by her baba, she gets an idea that proves successful. "Yasmin the Builder" is once again stumped over a class project, but after a few false starts and moments of frustration, she comes up with a brilliant contribution. Finally, "Yasmin the Fashionista" is bored at home with her grandparents while her parents eat out together. She complains of having nothing to do, but when she stumbles into her mother's closet, the hijabs and saris and a new kameez give her lots of ideas. Each episode spans two to three chapters. Each spread has full- or half-page art in attractive, bold colors. Readers will be charmed by this one-of-a-kind character and won't tire of her small but significant dilemmas. Faruqi nails the child's perspective, and illustrator Aly gives Yasmin life. Backmatter intended for child readers offers things to think and talk about from the stories, an index of Urdu words presented as a fun way to learn the language, facts about Pakistan, a recipe, and a craft.Utterly satisfying. (Fiction. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews