Scan barcode
mehsi's review
4.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!
Meet Yasmin, a tiny little girl with big plans!
This book consists out of 4 stories. In each story Yasmin is trying out something else!
First story: Yasmin the Explorer: 4 stars. Yasmin is going to make a map of the neighbourhood, she is going to be an explorer! This was just adorable. I know I did the same thing when I was a child. Making a map of my home and neighbourhood, exploring every nook and cranny of it.
Only then Yasmin and her mom go to the farmers’ market and that happens. Well, she has a map, but it doesn’t help out in this situation. I knew everything would be fine (after all it is a children’s book and there are more stories), but still I was worried. But all is well in the end. And Yasmin learned a big lesson. Maps are nice, but maybe mom’s are also handy to have with you when exploring.
Second story: Yasmin the Painter: 4 stars. Oh, a painting contest, how fun! Though, I guess not fun for everyone. If you know you can’t draw/paint, and you have to participate. And even your family is in to help… I can imagine that Yasmin isn’t too happy about it. But practice makes perfect, remember that! I am happy with her solution though, that is brilliant. It is still art, plus you are having fun doing it. Of course the ending was a bit of a letdown, sure it was a happy one, but it was so predictable.
Third story: Yasmin the Builder: 4 stars. It is time for a new project, time to build a city! But before one can build you have to plan and draw a sketch of what you want to make in the city. Yasmin’s mind is full with ideas, what to make, what to build? Then she sees her classmates build stuff already, stuff she also would have loved to make. I did feel for Yasmin, I know the feeling of having too many choices, or not knowing how to make something and then seeing others make something without seemingly any problems. But Yasmin is a creative little girl and she isn’t giving up. I just adored her idea, and I am happy that she managed to do all that without breaking the buildings.
Fourth story: Yasmin the Fashionista: 4 stars. What to do when one is bored? Hold a fashion show of course! And what to do when one is a bit clumsy? Try to fix it with lots of glitter and glue. 😛 No, I would recommend the last one, but it does work.. for a while at least.
I loved seeing what Yasmin and her grandma came up with and what they wore for the show.
I also loved that Yasmin’s family is Pakistani-American. We saw that in what they wear (Yasmin’s mom wears a jihab), but also in little names for family members. We should really get more books with various cultures.
Plus points to the Learn Urdu with Yasmin part at the end!
The illustrations are also really well done (well, with the exception of one or two which seemed to be done in a hurry). Oh my! I just checked the illustrator and they also did illustrations for another book I loved! That explains why it seemed familiar. \o/
All in all, this is one cute book, and I would recommend it to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Meet Yasmin, a tiny little girl with big plans!
This book consists out of 4 stories. In each story Yasmin is trying out something else!
First story: Yasmin the Explorer: 4 stars. Yasmin is going to make a map of the neighbourhood, she is going to be an explorer! This was just adorable. I know I did the same thing when I was a child. Making a map of my home and neighbourhood, exploring every nook and cranny of it.
Only then Yasmin and her mom go to the farmers’ market and that happens. Well, she has a map, but it doesn’t help out in this situation. I knew everything would be fine (after all it is a children’s book and there are more stories), but still I was worried. But all is well in the end. And Yasmin learned a big lesson. Maps are nice, but maybe mom’s are also handy to have with you when exploring.
Second story: Yasmin the Painter: 4 stars. Oh, a painting contest, how fun! Though, I guess not fun for everyone. If you know you can’t draw/paint, and you have to participate. And even your family is in to help… I can imagine that Yasmin isn’t too happy about it. But practice makes perfect, remember that! I am happy with her solution though, that is brilliant. It is still art, plus you are having fun doing it. Of course the ending was a bit of a letdown, sure it was a happy one, but it was so predictable.
Third story: Yasmin the Builder: 4 stars. It is time for a new project, time to build a city! But before one can build you have to plan and draw a sketch of what you want to make in the city. Yasmin’s mind is full with ideas, what to make, what to build? Then she sees her classmates build stuff already, stuff she also would have loved to make. I did feel for Yasmin, I know the feeling of having too many choices, or not knowing how to make something and then seeing others make something without seemingly any problems. But Yasmin is a creative little girl and she isn’t giving up. I just adored her idea, and I am happy that she managed to do all that without breaking the buildings.
Fourth story: Yasmin the Fashionista: 4 stars. What to do when one is bored? Hold a fashion show of course! And what to do when one is a bit clumsy? Try to fix it with lots of glitter and glue. 😛 No, I would recommend the last one, but it does work.. for a while at least.
I loved seeing what Yasmin and her grandma came up with and what they wore for the show.
I also loved that Yasmin’s family is Pakistani-American. We saw that in what they wear (Yasmin’s mom wears a jihab), but also in little names for family members. We should really get more books with various cultures.
Plus points to the Learn Urdu with Yasmin part at the end!
The illustrations are also really well done (well, with the exception of one or two which seemed to be done in a hurry). Oh my! I just checked the illustrator and they also did illustrations for another book I loved! That explains why it seemed familiar. \o/
All in all, this is one cute book, and I would recommend it to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
karen_hallam's review
5.0
Received this ARC for an honest review.
MEET YASMIN … the Explorer who discovers how useful the maps can be. The Painter, finding inspiration after much frustration, the Builder of bridges, and the Fashionista, who creates a unique style all her own, in each adventure-filled chapter.
Yasmin and her Pakistani American family will delight you in this chapter book. Yasmin shares her problem-solving skills in creative and inventive ways. She’s quite the visionary. Readers go to school with Yasmin, enter an art competition, become lost at the farmer’s market, and share in the horror of ripping her mother’s most beautiful silk kameez. But Yasmin has ideas and she gets to work.
Yasmin’s a spunky, smart, and courageous second-grader; her family life is fun and nurturing. We learn a few words in Urdu, a language from Pakistan, and there’s a delicious recipe for a yogurt drink called Lassi, plus, a bookmark craft that’s simple enough for young hands. MEET YASMIN is a welcome addition to the chapter book market. I look forward to reading more of Yasmin’s trials and learning how she tackles them, and I’m sure kids will too!
MEET YASMIN … the Explorer who discovers how useful the maps can be. The Painter, finding inspiration after much frustration, the Builder of bridges, and the Fashionista, who creates a unique style all her own, in each adventure-filled chapter.
Yasmin and her Pakistani American family will delight you in this chapter book. Yasmin shares her problem-solving skills in creative and inventive ways. She’s quite the visionary. Readers go to school with Yasmin, enter an art competition, become lost at the farmer’s market, and share in the horror of ripping her mother’s most beautiful silk kameez. But Yasmin has ideas and she gets to work.
Yasmin’s a spunky, smart, and courageous second-grader; her family life is fun and nurturing. We learn a few words in Urdu, a language from Pakistan, and there’s a delicious recipe for a yogurt drink called Lassi, plus, a bookmark craft that’s simple enough for young hands. MEET YASMIN is a welcome addition to the chapter book market. I look forward to reading more of Yasmin’s trials and learning how she tackles them, and I’m sure kids will too!
drbooknerd's review
5.0
Such a sweet little book. I need to figure out who I could gift this to among my family / family friend circle. Might have to be a super early gift though!
thowell's review
Source:
Age Range
Evaluation of Quality:
Assessment of potential use:
Assessment of appeal to children:
Age Range
Evaluation of Quality:
Assessment of potential use:
Assessment of appeal to children:
readsewknit's review
4.0
Meet Yasmin! portrays the adventures of a Pakistani-American girl, filled with the imagination and playfulness of the typical elementary-aged girl. The book is broken up into four stories, with several chapters in each section. Yasmin delves into exploring, painting, building, and fashion.
The illustrations draw in readers and the storylines will resonate with children as a variety of emotions are expressed.
The book closes with a question applicable for each section to aid in conversations; for the first story, when Yasmin gets lost, parents have opportunity to explore the emotions present when a child has fear of being separated, as well as the opportunity to create a plan for any contingency. To go along with the fashionista chapter, parents can talk with their children about favorite games or activities they participate in with relatives. Additionally, there's a glossary for the Urdu words used in the story (several may be familiar to readers already, like naan, hijab, and sari). Facts about Pakistan, a recipe for a popular yogurt drink, and a bookmark craft close out the book.
Representation in literature matters, and having such a book in homes and libraries helps in creating a diverse presence in literature. I may not wear a hijab or have kameez in my wardrobe, but my daughters can make connections with the universal experiences of dressing in mother's clothes. This story could call to mind their Muslim friends from Syria or the classmates from Mexico -- some aspects to our daily lives are different, but they can bridge those differences by reflecting on what they have in common. Perhaps they connect with Yasmin's pressure to perform well in the art contest, or the uncertainty over what she can contribute to the class building project. This book can remove some of the mystery about someone who may look or speak differently and allow for fruitful conversations (which, hopefully, lead to deeper friendships).
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)
The illustrations draw in readers and the storylines will resonate with children as a variety of emotions are expressed.
The book closes with a question applicable for each section to aid in conversations; for the first story, when Yasmin gets lost, parents have opportunity to explore the emotions present when a child has fear of being separated, as well as the opportunity to create a plan for any contingency. To go along with the fashionista chapter, parents can talk with their children about favorite games or activities they participate in with relatives. Additionally, there's a glossary for the Urdu words used in the story (several may be familiar to readers already, like naan, hijab, and sari). Facts about Pakistan, a recipe for a popular yogurt drink, and a bookmark craft close out the book.
Representation in literature matters, and having such a book in homes and libraries helps in creating a diverse presence in literature. I may not wear a hijab or have kameez in my wardrobe, but my daughters can make connections with the universal experiences of dressing in mother's clothes. This story could call to mind their Muslim friends from Syria or the classmates from Mexico -- some aspects to our daily lives are different, but they can bridge those differences by reflecting on what they have in common. Perhaps they connect with Yasmin's pressure to perform well in the art contest, or the uncertainty over what she can contribute to the class building project. This book can remove some of the mystery about someone who may look or speak differently and allow for fruitful conversations (which, hopefully, lead to deeper friendships).
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)
msghani's review
5.0
A wonderfully charming chapter book of Pakistani 2nd grader Yasmin. The book teaches young kids basic problem solving accompanied by very nice illustrations. I love that Yasmin's culture isn't made anything special. It's just part of who she is!
brandongiesing's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0