Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers
by Uma Mishra-Newbery (Author) Rebecca Green (Illustrator)
"Poetic, moving, and empowering.” - Kirkus Reviews
Loujain watches her beloved baba attach his feather wings and fly each morning, but her own dreams of flying face a big obstacle: only boys, not girls, are allowed to fly in her country. Yet despite the taunts of her classmates, she is determined to do it—especially because Loujain loves colors, and only by flying can she see the color-filled field of sunflowers her baba has told her about. Eventually, he agrees to teach her, and Loujain's impossible dream becomes reality—and soon other girls dare to learn to fly.
Based on the experiences of co-author Lina AlHathloul's sister, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Loujain AlHathloul, who led the successful campaign to lift Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving, this moving and gorgeously illustrated story reminds us to strive for the changes we want to see—and to never take for granted women's and girls' freedoms.
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Kirkus
Poetic, moving, and empowering.
Publishers Weekly
Inspired by activist Loujain AlHathloul (b. 1989), who, back matter reveals, was incarcerated for her work "to change laws in Saudi Arabia that made it illegal for women to drive cars... without permission from male relatives," this meandering picture book by her sister Lina AlHathloul, with Mishra-Newbery, follows Loujain, who dreams of flying like her baba to "the carpet of a million sunflowers." Only men are allowed to fly using the detachable wings depicted in Green's acrylic gouache and colored pencil illustrations; however, Loujain persists in following dreams that, with others' help, come true. One spread showcases Loujain and her father flying as sensory-rich prose describes their journey: "She ran her fingers like a comb through the awakening purple clouds." By positioning Loujain in a fantastical world--even if its internal logic occasionally lapses--this authorial debut successfully makes a real-life issue accessible for the youngest audiences. Back matter includes more about Loujain AlHathloul. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
Gr 3-5--Loujain is a young girl who longs to fly, but lives in a land where it is forbidden for girls to do so. Every morning, her father helps her put wings on, but she is relegated to watching him fly while she is refused that privilege. The injustice makes Loujain angry; she longs to see a field of sunflowers her father told her about, but the only way to see it is to fly to it. Due to her avid interest in using her wings, Loujain's parents agree to support their daughter's dream and her father gives her step-by-step lessons. Various sizes of acrylic gouache and colored pencil illustrations, ranging from vignettes to full-page, are bright with saturated color. Flying is a metaphor used in place of driving, an offense for which the real Loujain Alhathloul was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Youngsters might have questions about the child doing something unlawful; will she be punished for flying? Will her father get in trouble for teaching her? VERDICT Use this with older picture book readers, where the nuances of right and wrong can be given fuller examination.--Maryann H. Owen
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
A Bookstagang Best Picture Book Biography
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title MSNBC Gift Guide: 12 Incredible Books to Inspire Young Girls To Know Their Value
"Read this if you want a powerful and moving story about how sometimes rules are meant to be broken....beautifully-illustrated ...introduces readers to the idea that unfair rules can be changed." —Ciarra Chavarria, @girlsreadtheworld via MSNBC.com A "clever narrative" filled with "extraordinary spirit... gorgeous colors... a magical quality."—The New York Times
"Successfully makes a real-life issue accessible for the youngest audiences." —Publishers Weekly "Beautiful and powerful and moving. A must-read." —The Conscious Kid "One of the Best Children's Books of 2022 (So Far). With dreamy illustrations, this is a story to read before bed to inspire dreams of courage and to read during the day to remind us not to give up." —Tinybeans "Heroic and emotional text ... striking illustrations.... This gorgeously illustrated book inspires hope and reminds readers always to fight for justice." —Shelf Awareness for Readers One of the Most Anticipated Picture Books of 2022 —Mutually Inclusive "This heart-filling and beautifully presented story will entice our children, parents, and teachers alike to support and empower our future change-makers where it is needed in the world around us." —Yasmine Aslam-Hashmi, We Need Diverse Books "Beautiful...a story of exemplary courage and resilience...an inspiration for children around the world." —Equality Now "A must read." —Book Trib "A tender, metaphorical book that tells an important story with imagination and beauty..... an inspirational starting point for kids everywhere to be empowered in knowing that they too can dream big and fight for what is right. ....a must have for Women's History Month (and beyond!)." —Inclusive Storytime "Loujain's story is incredible in every sense of the word, and she's someone every kid should learn about.....gorgeous." —Girls Read the World "A beautiful fable of courage and equity." — Books to Borrow, Books to Buy, nationally syndicated column "Inspiring... would make an excellent discussion starter with older elementary students....gives a real-world example about protesting unjust laws." —Kids Book A Day "Readers will consider gender equity and the differences in culture then consider what they'll do with their own wings — and how to give wings to others." —Imagination Soup
the New York Times best-selling BECOMING A GOOD CREATURE, written by Sy Montgomery and the author/illustrator of
Illustrator site: rebeccagreenillustration.com
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV030110 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Middle East
JUV039290 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Activism & Social Justice
Inspiration
Sex discrimination
AlHathloul, Loujain
