Cover of the children's book That's Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed, featuring an illustrated girl with brown hair in pigtails, wearing a black jumper with red pockets, surrounded by colorful speech bubbles with various mispronounced names.

That’s Not My Name!

by anoosha syed

Mirha is so excited for her first day of school! She can’t wait to learn, play, and make new friends. But when her classmates mispronounce her name, she goes home wondering if she should find a new one. Maybe then she’d be able to find a monogrammed keychain at the gas station or order a hot chocolate at the cafe more easily.

Mama helps Mirha to see how special her name is, and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly.

Colorful drawing of a watermelon slice filled with crayons and surrounded by loose crayons, with a box of brown crayons in the background.

awards

Green 13-point star shape.

A 2023 Blue Spruce Award Honoree

A large, green, eight-pointed star-shaped object.

A Bank Street Best Books of the Year 2023 Selection

Green star-shaped object with multiple points.

A Society of Illustrators Original Art Show Selection

Green eight-pointed star shape.

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Books 2022

Pattern of red tulips and white flowers with yellow centers on a green background.
Pattern of red tulips and white flowers with yellow centers on a yellow background.
Pattern of red and white flowers with green leaves on a yellow background.
Pattern of red and white flowers with green leaves on a yellow background.
Pattern of colorful flowers and stars on a light green background.
A repeating pattern of red tulips and white daisies with green leaves on a yellow background
A young girl with brown hair in pigtails, wearing a green checkered shirt, blue shorts with white flowers, and green sneakers, is smiling and holding a drawing of a blue turkey labeled "MIRHA."

“Affirming and empowering; a story that will resonate with many children and a lot of adults, too.”

–kirkus reviews

“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

“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

A brown background with yellow star and circle doodles scattered across.
Repeated pattern of red tulips and white flowers with yellow centers on a light green background with small yellow sparkling accents.
Repeating pattern of red tulips and white daisies on a light green background.
A horizontal decorative border with repeating pattern of red tulips and white daisies with yellow centers on a green background.
A decorative border with red tulips, white daisies, green leaves, and yellow stars on a yellow background.
Row of colorful floral patterns with red and white flowers on a yellow background.
Pattern of red tulips and white daisies with green leaves on a yellow background.

Peek Inside

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