Meet Yasmin Book Review – Authentic and Refreshing!

I couldn’t tell the last time I was this excited about a book from the children’s aisle. Welcome to my blog, where I’ll be sharing my thoughts and insights on the popular children’s book “Meet Yasmin” by Saadia Faruqi. “Meet Yasmin” is a heartwarming and empowering book that follows the adventures of a young Pakistani American girl named Yasmin as she navigates her way through everyday life. From exploring her neighborhood to solving problems and using her creativity, Yasmin’s character inspires young readers to be confident, brave, and curious. In this blog, you will read my Meet Yasmin book review and why I think this book is a must-read for children of all ages, as well as for parents, educators, and anyone interested in promoting diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and let’s dive into the world of Yasmin!

Inclusivity In Reading

As we strolled through Target a few weeks ago, I headed to the book section to find a book for Aadya to read over the weekend. There was nothing new – just the usual superhero and rambunctious little kids in school type of storybooks. 

As I walked to the farther end of the aisle, I noticed a blue book for early readers. A gem in the haystack. A gem I recognized as my own. I felt an immense sense of pride in seeing a book with a picture of a little girl that looked like my very own daughter. 

What’s the book about?

Say hello to Yasmin! Meet Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi is a book about a curious, spirited American-Pakistani second-grader who goes on little adventures and solves her life’s little problems. The series of books take emerging, early readers through various aspects of Yasmin’s life in four parts – explorer, painter, builder, and fashionista. In addition, we all get to learn Urdu words and other Pakistani things in bite-sized morsels!

Facts

Age Level – 5-8 Years

Reading Level – K- 2

Page Count – 96

Language – English

Publisher – Capstone

Let’s Get into the Meet Yasmin Book Review

Art – This is what struck me the most about the book. Hatem Aly’s art transcends the typical glitter and pink – stereotypical of books featuring a little girl protagonist. The art features bold colors and is in sync with the transitioning emotions of younger children.

Story – Straightforward storylines that take inspiration from simple adventures and explore the various emotions of an elementary school kid in 4 parts of the book. Each part is split into 3 small chapters that are easy and fulfilling for those dipping their fingertips into the world of reading! Full marks for relatability and language!

Language – The reading level of this book is perfect for early readers that are able to read 8-10 word sentences and comfortable with punctuation. The sizing of the font and the spacing of art is perfect for transitioning readers to go from picture books (reference: level 2 or 3 of first little readers) to regular book reading. The text is just the right amount to push your child to the next level.

Final Verdict for the Meet Yasmin Book Review

On the whole, my verdict for Meet Yasmin is a MUST READ for all elementary school kids – boys and girls – to explore emotions, to feel a sense of relatability in terms of problems, and a fun way to learn about Pakistan!