Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
@jtbigelow
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Award-winning children’s book author. Next up: Sister Friend, May 2024
Philadelphia, PA
Joined December 2014
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I mean, with protesters being chased down by police and our money killing mostly children in Rafah in real time, all while this delightful garden-themed gala takes place, are we not living the Hunger Games?
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The layers to this story… I’m so disturbed.
—The policing of Black joy
—The principal’s need to make this event about her control and not the graduates and their families
—The fact the family had to demand the diploma
—The circumstances of this family
AT 4:30: This is video of Hafsah Abdur-Rahman dancing across stage to receive her diploma at the Philadelphia High School For Girls’ graduation.
But she says her principal didn’t give it to her because she broke the rules by making the crowd laugh.
Tune into
@6abc
for more.
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If my kids have 7 hours of virtual school a day, why do they also have homework? Are they supposed to see their home as a place to do school work 9 hours a day? I’m trying to understand
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***BOOK GIVEAWAY***
Win a copy of YOUR NAME IS A SONG before it's released!
Follow/Like/RT to enter!
Winner selected on 6/22. (US only)
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And here it is! Illustrated by Hatem Aly
@metahatem
, this is the story of a shy boy who tries to find a secret place to pray one of the 5 daily prayers in school. Out June 6 from
@randomhousekids
(preorder link in bio). Read more about it here:
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My five-year-old is calling his drawings his “heart work” and I’m not correcting him. “Mommy, look at my heart work!” So sweet❤️
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Y’all, it gets worse. I can’t yet say what else I learned last night. Just know, I went to bed in tears and wondering if I even want to stay in this industry. I am devastated by the lack of ethics and cynicism. So devastated.
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@yesimhotinthis
@InnovationPress
The pose, the wind, first day of school, mom character, poetic language to honor names… yeah
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A school canceled my visit. They want their money back. I posted a few times about Palestinian children. I’m sure I was scrutinized more because I’m Muslim. I haven’t said as much as I could have about that situation. Not nearly enough. Especially when schools like this exist.
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***BOOK GIVEAWAY***
Win a copy of ABDUL’S STORY!
Follow/Like/RT to enter!
Tag friends for extra entries!
Winners selected in TWO DAYS on Sunday, March 20. (US only)
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I feel like singing! I’m happy to announce the release date of my picture book, YOUR NAME IS A SONG, illustrated by
@lupencita
and from
@InnovationPress
has FINALLY been confirmed!
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So I found out why Amazon has restricted reviews of my book (Hold Them Close) and it's well...heartbreaking. My book is considered to have "sensitive content." Because it's about race. That makes it a target. So, yeah for 30-60 days only verified customers can review.
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Eid will be here next week! Consider supporting Muslim authors by purchasing their recently published books as gifts!
Thanks for the graphic
@ayawrites
!
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@Ebonyteach
Omg! I loved her so much as a girl and felt for her struggles with being a redhead. I felt empowered and transported by her story although we’re so different. Why is it hard for so many white people to empathize with Black girls? We empathize with their characters all the time
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White, non-Muslim guys just aren’t that central to the lives of most Muslim girls and women. Why are there so many books and movies that keep insisting they are? Stop centering them in stories about us
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YOUR NAME IS A SONG has been delayed to a TBD 2021 date due to COVID but I wrote the girl in that book to be nothing but
#BlackKidJoy
. Please remember her when she enters the world
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If you’re a Black kidlit creator and you have created stories of Black kids being happy, share it with the world let’s share
#BlackKidJoy
. Our kids need these stories at a time like this
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A young Muslim writer who writes YA recently wrote me a letter about her doubts in trying to get traditionally published because she writes Muslim characters who aren’t rebelling against their faith or their ethnic identities. Her characters are practicing Muslims
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Locking my account. Gossip mags have gotten ahold of this, I’m nervous about who is now going to be on my page, and it’s Ramadan and I want peace💜
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One has to wonder why a rule that families can’t cheer exists. What/who are they policing with that rule at a graduation?
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As a children’s book author, I keep finding that no one is more bad ass than a school librarian.
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Educators, especially high school educators, please check in on the kids who miss school 1-2 times a week. I was a “good kid” with good grades in high school who did this so no one questioned it.
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Thank you everyone who has shown me so much support. The support of industry folks, from consumers to creatives to publishing professionals, has reminded me of the good side of this industry. I am feeling so much appreciation and gratitude towards all of you.
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YOUR NAME IS A SONG made the Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Books list! It truly is a special honor to have this book from my heart get recognized:
I am so thankful, Alhamdulilah
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My father passed away today due to complications related to multiple myeloma cancer. It was such a blessing to have that kind, good man in my life and I believe he’s in a better place, Alhamdulilah. I’m pulling back from social media for the time being
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And why so punitive? Why do they need to put this accomplished young Black girl in her place for other people cheering her on? She swung her arms in a dance that lasted maybe five seconds. The laughter was even shorter than that.
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The small ways arms are being twisted to force silence. To even say as a children’s book author, as a human being, I’m not in support of indiscriminate killing of kids. That I can’t justify paying the tax dollars on books I make for kids to pay for killing them…
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Here is the cover to Hold Them Close. I can't begin to write what this book means to me in a tweet so I won't try. Many thanks to Patrick Dougher (the artist) and Jamel Shabazz (the photographer) and Luana Horry
@Harperkids
&
@essiewhitewrite
Preorder:
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@AJamesRo
Other systems around the world do less hours and the kids are doing better academically. Homeschoolers do less and do well too. The COVID shutdown could be a chance to reevaluate outdated, unproven school structures. Why keep everything exactly the same? To what end?
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In these times of pandemic shutdowns and gun violence, our kids absolutely deserve their moments of joy. Respectability and anti-Black rules should not take away their joy
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I’m a Muslim writer and before I write, I often make dua for Allah to make the words come. Muslim writers make a dua and tell your stories
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But really adds to it for me is that I know what that family went through. I taught this girl’s sister back when she was in middle school. That same sister was shot in her back the first year of high school. She never got to graduate. I’m all torn up thinking about that 😔
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But that’s too political. I’m just supposed to write about Muslim kids, not care about them. I’m supposed to rep us in ways outsiders like. Give those people windows even while they refuse to see our humanity. I keep forgetting that.
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This launch day has been... unusual. First, I’ve had a migraine all day and have been staying offline most of the day to recover and haven’t been able to shout it out the way I wanted to. And then, I woke up to find out my book is sold out... pretty much everywhere right now!
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Help raise money for Black Creators in KidLit! They’re doing amazing work for those of us in the industry.
Bid on critiques from agents, editors, illustrators, and writers here:
@BCinKidLit
#BCInKidLit2021Auction
#AmplifyBlackVoices
#BHM
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💃🏽💃🏽So excited!!! Thank you!!!
Congratulations to Your Name is a Song by
@jtbigelow
for being a 2021 Donna Norvell Book Award Masterlist Nominee!
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🥰Teachers, I've gathered and uploaded my favorite *free* classroom resources to use alongside YOUR NAME IS A SONG, ABDUL'S STORY, and MOMMY'S KHIMAR. Find songs, study guides, lesson plans, crafts, videos, and more here:
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I am so honored that I had an opportunity to write "Eid Pictures", a poem about the history of Black Muslim celebrating Eid in the
#OnceUponAnEid
anthology and this illustration by
@SaraAlfageeh
for it captured it so well, Alhamdulilah!
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New book announcement! Excited to be working with
@metahatem
!
Thank you to
@essiewhitewrite
@stormliterary
@anniekelley
!
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Announcing: TOGETHER WE ARE SUNSHINE, with the amazing
@rizzyfig
! Haala, Sanaa, and Munira’s story of sibling rivalry, sisterhood, and kid shenanigans in nature comes out in summer 2025. Thank you
@pterlip
and
@andreabrownlit
and thank you so much
@anniekelley
@randomhousestudio
!
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GROUNDED is here!!! ()
And as I usually do with all my books, I’m going to tell you there are no words to describe how important this one is to me. HOWEVER, it’s true and in this case, for very different reasons! 1/
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In a world when there are so many neurodivergent kids and more awareness, I wish adults who see kids in public having meltdowns or going against social norms or doing something that doesn’t seem age appropriate would learn to control their looks of disdain towards ND families.
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(It has been so hard to keep this a secret!!!)
🗣🗣🗣Now Announcing:
Applications are open to pick our 16 fellows!
This is a 2-year fellowship for Muslim storytellers (aspiring, debut, and established) who write or illustrate stories for children and teens!
#MuslimKidLit
The application period is now open for our Muslim Storytellers Fellowship. Join us for an informational webinar Tues 6/29, 6pm EST--everyone is welcome! Find out more & register for the webinar here:
#MuslimStorytellers
#MuslimKidlit
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The blessings come exactly when you need them. It was hard keeping this quiet but now I can share. Just days after I learned that Am*zon was preemptively restricting reviews of HOLD THEM CLOSE (a racist move, btw), I received news HTC now has 3 starred reviews!
@HarperChildrens
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Thank you for recognizing GROUNDED where Muslim kids run amok in an airport, a typically fraught space, to explore personal issues, make new friends and well, find a cat 🤣. We rejected writing our pain there. We reclaim that space and the right of Muslim kids to just be.
Congratulations to this year's winners of the Walter Awards for Youth Literature!
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Part of being inclusive in the classroom during this holiday season is recognizing that this isn’t a holiday season for everyone, that there are some people who have holiday seasons during other times of the year, or not at all, and affirming for kids that all of this is okay
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I’ve gone back and forth about posting this. Why share? It’s probably not wise for my career. I’ll probably delete. But a part of me knows stuff like this needs to be documented.
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I’m excited to announce that YOUR NAME IS A SONG is an Irma Black Award Honor Book (and that I LOVE this silver medal!). Thank you
@bankstreetedu
!
Congrats to
@lupencita
and the book’s amazing publisher
@InnovationPress
and thank you
@StormLiterary
!
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I just wrote a first day of school picture book that’s been gnawing at me. Wrote it for my youngest child because I couldn’t find one that describes what his first day of kindergarten will be like in an autism support classroom.
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The made-up store now has a Twitter account. This ratio 😩😂
We repeatedly told
@DrOz
that we had pre-made veggie trays..excuse me “Crudité”…in the deli starting at $5.99. $7.99 with guacamole and salsa. Vote
@JohnFetterman
!
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I am finding that grief comes unexpectedly in heavy waves. I’ll feel normal and try to do the normal everyday things I need to do and then suddenly the sadness hits me hard. Just needed to write that out.
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Thank you everyone who shouted out, congratulated, boosted, pre-ordered, ordered, purchased copies locally, Amazoned and helped me get an orange banner, re-shared/ retweeted, messaged, called, and texted yesterday to help me celebrate the launch of
#SalatInSecret
.
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I’ve got some news!
Excited for “Ramadan Rain” with
@aliaabetawi
!
Thank you to my wonderful editor,
#AnnKelley
@randomhousekids
and amazing agent
@PTerlip
!
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Today has been a lot and I just want someone to hug me and say it will all be okay😞
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Every now and then, I have an experience at a bank, or store, or restaurant that reminds me of how people view me as less as a hijabbed Black woman. I filed my complaint at the bank today but the microaggressions don’t feel any lighter. Praying for a better rest of my day 🤲🏽
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Creating children’s books is not a hustle. It’s an art form. People viewing it as a get-rich-quick scheme (or even a resume booster as I’ve also seen) just means lots of poor-quality books for kids who deserve much more. This whole AI thing is just an extension of that.
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I write stories for and about Black girls and boys who come from families that converted to Islam as a means of Black liberation, people who pray 5 times a day, wear khimars, and grow Sunnis, and I send those stories to publishers—Big 5 and indie. Why not test the limits?
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I get the reasoning about
#OwnVoices
—the co-opting, the forced outing by gatekeepers. And I respect the people at WNDB. It’s just as a Black author in an industry where more than 1/2 of stories about us are NOT by us, it’s hard to give up simple language to describe that issue
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Anti-Blackness from non-Black Muslims right now... acting like this anti-Blackness is for the ummah...I’m so done
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YOUR NAME IS A SONG is out on July 7th! Preorder here:
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Still celebrating wins... Join me at 11:30 am tomorrow at
@harriettsbooks
for an in-person reading and signing of my new book ABDUL’S STORY (illustrated by
@aSouthpawDraws
)
@SimonKIDS
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😔 Such a gut punch for our Muslim community in Philly today. Eid should be safe. The Philadelphia Masjid is like home for so many. As an ummah, we have to do something about the gun violence.
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Woot! Woot!!! Royalties! Just saw my first book earned out! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
#Alhamdulilah
#MommysKhimar
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I met
@LindaSuePark
! Imagine my excitement when I saw that her book signing was right next to mine at
@ccira
#CCIRA2023
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I was talking to Black and POC writers today (love you
@diversedebuts20
!) and it was brought up that while other authors continue to promote, many Black kidlit writers feel too sad to promote or like it’s wrong rn. But our kids need our stories more than ever
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The title should say “When You See ME” (not M) but I’m glad this is finally announced! Thank you to
@ericafinkel
#ShahrzadMaydani
@PTerlip
and
@abramskids
#WhenYouSeeMe
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This book makes me smile every time I see it or laugh out loud when I remember random scenes (very awkward in public). Preorder GROUNDED for a fun and heartwarming story where Muslim kids get to just be. By
@aishacs
,
@skalibooks
,
@HudaAlMarashi
and me!
@abramskids
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I’ve got a new website! Thanks
@WebsyDaisy
! It still has the same resources for educators and aspiring authors but it’s now a lot easier to use. Check it out at
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This article was emotional for me as I reflected on the continued intentional erasure of my intersectional identity in publishing. I talked with other Black Muslim authors like Maryam Sullivan
@UmmJuwayriyah1
to reflect our experiences in the industry.
#BlackMuslimAuthors
"But what if we as Black Muslim writers don’t want to write as if we aren’t Muslim?"
@jtbigelow
wrote in a moving personal essay about writing for children as a Black Muslim author, and the continual erasure of Black Muslim writers.
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Inspiration for today: “I write for young girls of color, for girls who don’t even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they arrive."--Ntozake Shange
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I need dua, prayer, well wishes for my father, Brother Saleem, if you can give them. He has been in the hospital for almost two weeks. I talked to him yesterday. He sounded good. He was looking forward to being released. Today, he’s not doing well at all
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I love seeing my book with family friends. Thank you Carter family and enjoy! 🥰He’s so cute!!!
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I’m just a little irked by the let’s-be-objective takes of industry people who aren’t authors on B&N. Authors jump through hoops only to then have to accept career-derailing practices by corporations. But be objective. Ensure they make money. Objectively, most authors are broke.
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***COVER REVEAL***
Excited to share my NEW book with
#ShahrzadMaydani
! Check out the cover and read about it here!
👇👇👇
🦋 COVER REVEAL 🦋
We’re delighted to reveal the cover for Sister Friend by
@jtbigelow
, illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani! Edited by
@ericafinkel
& Courtney Code. This picture book about friendship comes out 5/7/24 from
@abramskids
. Get a closer look here:
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"Salat in Secret is the story of Muhammad who receives a salat/prayer rug on his seventh birthday, the age when young Muslims are encouraged to observe their five daily prayers."
@randomhousekids
@metahatem
Interview with
@KidlitInColor
and
@ayawrites
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I'm so excited to be featured in the
@PhillyInquirer
with other Philly authors! You will also be able to get it with more cool images in the Sunday paper!
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In three weeks! It’s original date of July 7. The publisher changed it back! And look it already got a star!!!
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They want us on the cover because our faces sell books but we still got to be saved by them to make it in this industry?! Racism is confusing
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I just… the anti-Blackness (and especially the internalized kind) in discussions of the Philly Eid shooting and of Philly Muslims.
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What if all schools went virtual for two weeks after winter break? Would this prevent a lot of spread and a worse shutdown later?
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Alhamdulilah, my dad is out of the hospital now. Thank you everyone for your well wishes as he recovers
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MOMMY’S KHIMAR is a story of
#BlackKidJoy
. Please order it from an local indie store if you can. I recommend
@UncleBobbies
since they are Black-owned and actively support Black and Muslim writers
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As a matter of principle I am telling my kids they do not have to make up homework they missed when they were out for Eid. I’m just not teaching them they have to do extra work to have their holidays the way I grew up thinking I had to.
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For so many reasons, posting celebratory things and promo feels fraught rn. Still, stories matter and especially ones that affirm the full humanity of every child. I pray my books do. Thread of a number of upcoming events for Sister Friend:
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My announcement!: ABDUL’S STORY, a pb written by me and illustrated by
@aSouthpawDraws
comes out in 2021!
Thrilled this wonderful story will soon be shared w/ children everywhere. ABDUL’S STORY honors the child. Books, like education, should do that. Thanks
@jtbigelow
for the beautiful words & Tiffany Rose for the art
@LiteraryHen
@CatherineLaud
@SimonKIDS
@SalaamReads
@ZareenJaffery
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As people start to speak out against book bans (or oppression/repression of any kind), could they please stop engaging in Islamophobia to make their arguments? When you call something from the Taliban or sharia to condemn the behavior of white Christians, you hurt Muslims
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Some exiting news…
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Black women deserve better
Breonna deserved better
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I got to be on the news today!
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