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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Two chapter books for newly independent readers introduce Pakistani American Yasmin. Each volume is comprised of four stories divided into several chapters each. In Meet Yasmin, Yasmin explores her neighborhood with Baba, Mami, and a map ("Yasmin the Explorer"); agonizes over what to create for an art contest ("Yasmin the Painter"); devises a unique contribution to her class collaborative building project ("Yasmin the Builder"); and turns an accidentally torn kameez into the opportunity for a fashion show with Nani ("Yasmin the Fashionista"). In Yasmin in Charge, she rises to the challenge of keeping her classmates on task ("Yasmin the Teacher"); makes a tasty dish for the family party after a rough start ("Yasmin the Chef "); has a close encounter with the monkeys on a trip to the zoo ("Yasmin the Zookeeper"); and dons a hijab as cape to be a superhero in search of big saves but excelling at small acts of kindness ("Yasmin the Superhero"). Yasmin is irrepressible, even when briefly disappointed or overwhelmed by a challenge, in stories full of energy and humor and grounded in myriad cultural details in both the narrative and the full- color art showing racially and culturally diverse secondary characters, as well as Yasmin's grandfather, Nana, using a wheelchair. Each of the eight stories across the two volumes have also been released as individual books for advanced beginning readers, and are available in both English and Spanish editions. (Ages 4—8)

CCBC Choices 2020 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2020. Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

August 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 5â€"8.