Abdul's Story - by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Hardcover)

About the Book

Abdul loves telling stories but thinks his messy handwriting and spelling mistakes will keep him from becoming an author, until Mr. Muhammad visits and encourages him to persist.

Book Synopsis

A 2022 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids!

A little boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing learns that it's okay to make mistakes in this charming and encouraging picture book from the author of Mommy's Khimar.

Abdul loves to tell stories. But writing them down is hard. His letters refuse to stay straight and face the right way. And despite all his attempts, his papers often wind up with more eraser smudges than actual words. Abdul decides his stories just aren't meant to be written down...until a special visitor comes to class and shows Abdul that even the best writers--and superheroes--make mistakes.

Review Quotes

★ "Inspiring for all students."--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"A real treasure of a book for any child who has struggled to learn a skill."--Kirkus Reviews

"Exploring the topic of learning disabilities can be challenging, especially the social-emotional fallout for children who are struggling, but Thompkins-Bigelow accomplishes the task. Rose's lively and colorful illustrations are eye-pleasing and showcase diversity. This is an engaging story that not only offers empowerment but also models understanding and acceptance of learning differences." --The Horn Book Magazine

"In a world that can often be inaccessible, Abdul's Story is an example of the power of casting a child with a learning disability in a starring role. As we witness Abdul working hard to improve his story, we're reminded that very few things are ever perfect on the first try, but it's in the trying that we eventually find success."--BookPage

About the Author

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a Philadelphia-based educator and children's book author. Her works, which center young Black Muslim protagonists, have been recognized and critically praised by many trusted voices in literature, including American Library Association, School Library Journal, and NPR. Her books include Mommy's Khimar and Your Name is a Song, and she is a contributor to the Once Upon an Eid anthology.

Tiffany Rose is a teacher, world traveler, and the left-handed author/illustrator of M is for Melanin. She is also the illustrator of Abdul's Story, All I Need to Be, and Hurry Kate, or You'll Be Late. Tiffany is passionate about creating art and meaningful stories that reflect the everyday experiences of underrepresented voices in children's literature. Tiffany currently lives and works in Shanghai, China. She's a lover of coffee, wanderlust, massive curly afros, and children being their imaginative, quirky, free selves. Visit her at ASouthPawDraws.com.