My Name is Bilal - Asma Mobin-Uddin

Illutrator: Barbara Kiwok
Published: 2005
Rating: 3
Endpapers: Bright Yellow

When Bilal and his sister move to a new town from Chicago, they realize they are the only Muslim kids at their school. Afraid of being bullied, Bilal claims his name is Bill and doesn't stand up for his sister when a bully tries to pull off her head scarf. His teacher, Mr. Ali, was an old friend of his father's and meets Bilal at the mosque with a gift of a book about an ancient Bilal. After reading the book and having a dream where he is put into the same situation as his ancient namesake, he decides to be himself. Miraculously a situation appears where he can make friends with the bully (you realize the the "miraculously" is tongue-in-cheek....) and he meets an older, respected student who is a Muslim and stops playing basketball to pray.

There's lots of information about the religion, but the story itself is not particularly clever or believable.

Barbara Kiwok's illustrations are lovely, in most cases covering about 2/3 of the two-page spread from edge-to-edge. The text is on the remaining white third of the page. In the middle of the book there are two pages with no illustrations - only texxt - on the bright yellow color of the endpapers. I don't think I recall this happening in any other picture book. I wonder why?

Overall: Weak story, but excellent information woven in, with lovely illustrations.