About the Author

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American writer, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes for a number of publications including the Huffington Post, and is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose. Her adult short story collection Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan was published in 2015. She resides in Houston, TX with her husband and children. Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator whose work has been featured in multiple publications worldwide. He currently lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada, with his wife, son, and more pets than people. When he is not dipping cookies in a cup of tea or staring at blank pieces of paper, he is usually drawing books. One of the books he illustrated is The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz, which won a Newbery Honor and other awards despite Hatem's drawings of a farting dragon, a two-headed cat, and stinky cheese.

Reviews

...a fun chapter book that should join the likes of Jasmine Toguchi by Debbi Michiko Florence and Lola Levine by Monica Brown.-- "Book Riot"
...a great read to recommend to transitional chapter book readers.-- "Literacy on the Mind"
...looks at the adventures of a bright, intelligent young girl and her multi-generational Pakistani American family.-- "The International Examiner"
Ah those well-crafted transitional books can be hard to pin down. Elusive, aren't they? When you spot a good one, you hold onto it. You tell people about it. Meet Yasmin! is one such book. Well-suited for those who are ready for something a bit longer than an early reader, Yasmin is a character that readers will want to want to root for. . . .The full-color illustrations, courtesy of Hatem Aly (who most famously illustrated the Newbery Honor winner The Inquisitor's Tale), bring Yasmin's Pakistani American family to life with vibrance and personality.-- "100 Scope Notes, School Library Journal"
Books should be windows and mirrors*, and Meet Yasmin is that for many children around the world. We think every classroom should have a copy of this book in their library.-- "Story Mamas"
Four brief stories make up this first installment about curious and spirited Yasmin. The charming art will draw in readers.-- "Teen Librarian Toolbox"
I am always searching for chapter books that will appeal to young readers who are looking for those longer books. . . . .I am thrilled to have a series that features characters that are brown-skinned and introduces us to a different language, traditions and culture. Yasmin is a Pakistani-American and while growing up in America, also keeps some Pakistani traditions in her home. So while the situations are familiar (figuring out what to build, accidentally ripping clothing, creating a work of art, exploring) they are infused with potentially new words for readers, such as hijab, Baba, and sari.-- "Mrs. Knott's Book Nook"
I took the book to my story time at the library and it got a room full of thumbs up.-- "A Crafty Arab"
I was thrilled when we got a bunch more of this in recently. Curious and bold, Yasmin brings great energy to her every adventure. The illustrations are GREAT--I want to dress like Yasmin!-- "Teen Librarian Toolbox"
It's nice when you get a book that knows how to sell itself. Just look at Hatem Aly's art here. Dude knows what he's doing, and what he's doing is sucking you into reading Ms. Faruqi's tales of Yasmin and her family. I don't need to tell you that contemporary Muslim-American stories aren't exactly commonplace quite yet. This book marks a peppy, colorful, thoroughly enjoyable step in the right direction.-- "A Fuse 8 Production"
Meet your new favorite second grader! Whether she's visiting the farmer's market with her mama or creating a fashion show with her nani, Yasmin is an adventurer and a problem solver. Hatem Aly's lively illustrations perfectly capture Yasmin's exuberant personality at school and at home with her family. Be sure to add this charmer to your beginning reader's bookshelf!-- "Wild Rumpus, 2018 Buyers Guide"
No matter what challenge Yasmin faces, she uses her curiosity, imagination, and the support of her family to tackle it.-- "BookRiot"
Pakistani American author Faruqi makes her kidlit debut with this early chapter book introducing plucky second-grader Yasmin, who approaches life's problems with imagination and verve. . . .Both author and illustrator do a good job integrating Pakistani and Muslim cultural details into the story: Mom is depicted with and without a hijab, and Urdu words appear throughout. Appended with discussion questions, an Urdu glossary, Pakistani facts, a recipe, and a craft, this should be a welcome addition to the transitional-reader shelf.-- "Booklist Online"
Pakistani-American Yasmin is an audacious second-grader whose abundant curiosity leads her to new discoveries, trials, and mishaps. . . .Faruqi writes in clear, vivid text and in digestible chapters, incorporating references to Pakistani culture and customs. In brightly colored artwork by Aly (The Inquisitor's Tale), Yasmin's wide-eyed expressions and flamboyant style (striped tights, a polka-dotted painter's smock, red cowgirl boots) lend her great appeal.-- "Publishers Weekly"
STARRED REVIEW! As she delves into new experiences, Yasmin also faces some common childhood fears and develops creative solutions on her own. Faruqi introduces readers to a delightful new beginning reader series that features an imaginative second grader who will quickly become a favorite among emergent readers. Aly's animated illustrations are the perfect complement to the text and bring Yasmin and her beloved family to life. . . .A definite purchase for any beginning reader collection.-- "School Library Journal"
STARRED REVIEW! Readers will be charmed by this one-of-a-kind character and won't tire of her small but significant dilemmas. Faruqi nails the child's perspective, and illustrator Aly gives Yasmin life. Backmatter intended for child readers offers things to think and talk about from the stories, an index of Urdu words presented as a fun way to learn the language, facts about Pakistan, a recipe, and a craft. Utterly satisfying.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
The cultural and religious references are placed unobtrusively in the background. . . .The fact that her mom grabs her purse and her hijab when she's getting ready to leave the house and that her dad calls her jaan are just normal parts of Yasmin's life and a normal part of the fabric of American life. . . .these are fun stories that everyone can enjoy.-- "Muslim Reads"
This is a fun early reader, great for kids interested in strong female characters having realistic adventures. . . .Meet Yasmin! also does a great job of incorporating the main character's Pakistani American heritage in small ways throughout the stories. . . .With expressive illustrations by Hatem Aly, short, easy to read chapters, and a main character with a plucky personality and strong problem-solving skills, Meet Yasmin! is a good choice for early readers in search of a contemporary story full of realistic adventures and a lot of fun. Highly Recommended.-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"
What an adorable main character! . . .I LOVE the diversity, the gutsy main-character, and the beautiful design of the entire book.-- "Imagination Soup"
While each story tackles a problem, the conflict doesn't arise from Yasmin's cultural identity. The plots are universally relatable, for Yasmin faces challenges that every kid has gone through. . . .There's some very clever writing going here, where the cultural information is prominent but never obtrusive. . . .Each story is brimming with heart.-- "The Aerogram"
Yasmin and her family, who speak both English and Urdu, are Pakistani American, and Faruqi incorporates elements of Pakistani customs into the text; the book even closes with a few Urdu words, as well as facts about Pakistan. Yasmin's adventures and dilemmas, however, are universal elementary-aged ones, as she overcomes artist's block for an art competition, finds her own creative conclusion to a frustrating building project in school, and more. With each adventure, she gains more confidence and discovers new things about herself and her world, as inquisitive second-graders are wont to do. Faruqi captures Yasmin's ups-and-downs with precise, economic language, and Aly's vivid illustrations capture Yasmin's world.-- "Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast"
Yasmin and her Pakistani American family will delight you. Yasmin shares her problem-solving skills in creative and inventive ways. . . .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. I'm sure kids will too!-- "Kidliterati"
Yasmin is an adorable and relatable character who manages to get herself into trouble or find herself stuck with a problem, but also finds a way out by using her creativity and smarts, which, hello, I love.-- "Girls Read the World"
Yasmin Ahmad is a second grader who loves to explore, paint, build and more. She's brave and adventurous in everything she does: making maps, creating messes, discovering new things. Most of all, she's a problem solver.-- "Barnes & Noble Kids"
Young readers are going to relate to many of the situations that Yasmin finds herself in. . . .Many readers are also going to appreciate the cultural details that Saadia seamlessly weaves into her story. . . .Meet Yasmin! is well crafted for beginning readers, with a crisp focus on problem and resolution, a small cast of characters for new readers to learn, and an engaging main character. Hand this to readers who like relatable, funny stories with short chapters.-- "Great Kid Books"
Young readers who like a spunky, take-charge main character need to MEET YASMIN, by Saadia Faruqi.-- "From the Mixed-Up Files"