A 2023 Blue Spruce Award Nominee
A Bank Street Best Books of the Year 2023 Selection

"Affirming and empowering; a story that will resonate with many children and a lot of adults, too."
-Kirkus Reviews

"Syed’s book uses clarity in the dialogue, the emotions, and in the intent, featuring only well-meaning teachers and children who want to get it right. Her illustrated school scenes are so familiar while Mirha’s posture translates her every feeling, with or without the text. . . A great first-day story for breaking the ice." -School Library Journal

"Saturated illustrations spotlight a candy-colored classroom environment, and classmates of varied abilities and skin tones, while accessible text offers a useful script that even invites readers to introduce themselves." -Publishers Weekly