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.
awards
A 2023 Blue Spruce Award Honoree
A Bank Street Best Books of the Year 2023 Selection
A Society of Illustrators Original Art Show Selection
Parents Magazine Best Children’s Books 2022
“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.”
