Abdul's Story

March 15, 2022
A young Black boy struggles with writing--until a special guest visits his class. Abdul loves to tell stories about the people in his neighborhood, and his friends at school love hearing them. But whenever he tries to write down his stories in a notebook, spelling rules confuse him, and his "scribbly, scratchy, scrawly letters" never stay on the lines. Abdul decides that his stories are not for books. One day, a visitor comes to Abdul's class; Mr. Muhammad--a Black man with a flattop haircut like Abdul's and whose sneakers, like Abdul's, have "not a single crease or scuff"--is a writer who urges the students to "write new stories with new superheroes." Abdul feels motivated to give writing another shot, but again he ends up with endless erasure marks and smudges. Mr. Muhammad shows Abdul his own messy notebook, and Abdul, who is left-handed, decides to try writing without erasing. He makes a mess but searches through the clutter for sentences he loves. He rewrites and rewrites and works on his mistakes until he forms a story he likes, proudly claiming the title of writer. Bright, full-color, textured digital illustrations depict a racially diverse, joyful community. This story offers an honest portrayal of learning differences and demonstrates the importance of role models who reflect kids' own backgrounds. It is a lovely addition to the shelf of meaningful children's books portraying Black Muslim Americans in everyday situations. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A real treasure of a book for any child who has struggled to learn a skill. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 18, 2022

PreS-Gr 1-Abdul, a kid with skin the color of the orange of a sunset and a hairstyle cut high and tight, is full of stories, and his classmates clamor for them. The residents of his neighborhood star in these stories because Abdul observes everything and misses little. An author visits his class, sending Abdul into a tailspin of worry. Some letters challenge him; he erases a lot; he makes a mess on the page. The teacher, Mr. Muhammad, shows Abdul his own messy notebook, and opens the boy's mind up to rewriting, and reworking, until the story on the page matches Abdul's ideals. That one adult can turn a child away from self-loathing to self-realization is a common theme, but it's transcendent here. There is no epiphany, no abrupt connection but instead loads of hard work and compassion, as well as patience. In the cheerful illustrations, the classroom is full of supporting characters of many backgrounds, but this is definitely Abdul's story. VERDICT A realistic look at what it takes to improve, this book will find a wide audience among other children who have struggled with words.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2022
Gregarious Abdul loves to tell stories to his classmates -- as long as he does not have to write them down. Letters are confusing, and figuring out how to spell words is frustrating. Not to mention that the books he reads at school do not feature people who look like him or the people in his neighborhood: "Some stories are for books, Abdul decided, but not his." Then an author named Mr. Muhammad comes to visit his class. By encouraging the boy to focus on his ideas instead of on mechanics, Mr. Muhammad helps Abdul to unleash the writer inside of him. Abdul, who is Black and Muslim, is a relatable character not typically represented in similar narratives, and Mr. Muhammad, who is also Black, Muslim, and neurodivergent, offers encouragement as the caring adult who has learned to manage his own writing challenges. This is a story within a story, not just about the tales Abdul wants to write but also about his journey as a learner; 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. Monique Harris

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from March 15, 2022
Grades 1-3 *Starred Review* This engrossing story has a compelling message for kids struggling with writing, as well as for all kids stuck in a "mistakes are bad" mindset. Abdul is a Black boy (and presumably Muslim, although it is never explicitly stated) living in an American big city. He loves regaling the other kids at school with stories about what goes on in his diverse neighborhood, but when it comes to writing these stories down, the "scribbly, scratchy, scrawly" ABCs he writes go backwards or won't stay on the line, leaving him feeling frustrated, ashamed, and convinced that writing stories is not for him. Then a professional writer named Mr. Muhammad visits class and urges the students to "write new stories with new superheroes." Abdul makes so many mistakes that he rips up his writing and ends up hiding under his desk. When Mr. Muhammad shows Abdul his own incredibly messy notebook, Abdul is inspired to change his approach from trying for perfection to trying a process of writing "a mess" and then "a less messy mess." Rose's bright digital illustrations are wonderful at depicting out-of-control letters and erasures, even showing Abdul's legs being erased at his low point. At the end, Abdul reads his story to his very receptive class and realizes that he is, indeed, a writer. Inspiring for all students.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2022
Gregarious Abdul loves to tell stories to his classmates -- as long as he does not have to write them down. Letters are confusing, and figuring out how to spell words is frustrating. Not to mention that the books he reads at school do not feature people who look like him or the people in his neighborhood: "Some stories are for books, Abdul decided, but not his." Then an author named Mr. Muhammad comes to visit his class. By encouraging the boy to focus on his ideas instead of on mechanics, Mr. Muhammad helps Abdul to unleash the writer inside of him. Abdul, who is Black and Muslim, is a relatable character not typically represented in similar narratives, and Mr. Muhammad, who is also Black, Muslim, and neurodivergent, offers encouragement as the caring adult who has learned to manage his own writing challenges. This is a story within a story, not just about the tales Abdul wants to write but also about his journey as a learner; 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.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)