Hatem Aly Colorín Colorado

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 2, 2025, 2:49 PM

This volume includes "Yasmin" stories that are also published separately: Yasmin the Explorer; Yasmin the Painter; Yasmin the Builder; and Yasmin the Fashionista. A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school -- and two sisters on one's first day of hijab -- by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad. In this collection of four stories, Yasmin takes charge of some sticky situations! At home, at school, or out and about, Yasmin faces challenges head on with creativity and quick thinking. Whether she's creating a new recipe, finding a way to rescue a stuck toy for a little friend, or calming down monkeys (and classmates!), a clever solution to any problem is just around the... Everyone seems to have a great idea for the makerspace project, everyone except for Yasmin!

All the good ideas are taken. Luckily, recess solves everything! Inspiration strikes and Yasmin creates something that brings the whole class together. Yasmin loves hosting parties! Music, friends, fun! But what she doesn't love is the spicy food her Pakistani family serves.

Yasmin puts on her chef hat and plans to make her own amazing, fantastic recipe...as soon as she figures out what that is! We caught up with Hatem Aly, represented by James Burns, and spoke all about his creative process, inspirations and advice. Read our conversation below. When I’m preparing to illustrate a book, I read it several times to get a feel for the story and the characters, and to identify the book’s central themes and what makes it stand... I try to take notes or write down keywords to help me focus, I have a natural tendency to come up with new ideas after I finish some spreads. I’m not the most methodical or organized artist.

There is a strange mix of excitement and frustration. I still feel like I’m looking for this uniqueness, or rather rejecting it and becoming annoyed by it when it comes to me, in the same way you cringe when you hear your voice... Never mind the source, sometimes getting an idea is like catching a fly: you’d be better off letting it land on you rather than trying to catch it. The persistent thought that I really ought to try to get it right this time around is a driving force, but I can’t afford to take my time. So, I’ve found that the best way for me to get started is to make a rough draft (or two) on a small scale and without any details, allowing ideas to come to me... At this stage, or even before, I make very rough sketches of a few characters as I try to figure out how they should look.

It’s more like putting together a piece of furniture: you leave some of the screws undone until you’re sure everything fits together correctly, and then you go back and tighten them. Although I now enjoy being a bookmaker, I didn’t initially pursue making picture books because I grew up reading mostly comics in magazines and some old-fashioned children’s books with few pictures or poor printing... I owe a lot to my childhood reading of comics and books in general. I’d like to do more comics but, for the time being, I’m content to experiment with various aspects of being a visual storyteller while also honing my writing skills. But that’s not all: I find my family, friends, pets, and everyday life to be very inspiring, and they have a significant impact on my work. I studied Fine Arts but wasn’t sure what I’d do with it, but I hoped to be a cartoonist or graphic novelist one day.

I worked for magazines, animation studios, and advertising agencies with a few opportunities to illustrate books but, once I did, I fell in love with picture books and illustrating books for all ages. It took years to get anywhere with my work but I was able to keep myself busy by taking on projects of varying sizes until I was ready to specialize. Moving to Canada in 2007 slowed down the pace of my journey, and while maintaining relationships with previous clients, it was difficult to feel confident about the future. Thankfully, things have gone well so far, and I am thankful for everything that has happened and excited for what the future holds. It’s strange to say, but I believe that when life becomes difficult you want your loved ones to feel like they supported you for something worthwhile, so you activate some kind of turbo mode... This gradually gives you more freedom to work better, much like a paved road full of stores after a muddy rural one.

A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school -- and two sisters on one's first day of hijab -- by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad. With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab -- a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the... But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong. Paired with Hatem Aly's beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali brings readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.

September 2025 | Volume XLIII, Issue 3 » September 2, 2025 Becca Boland, Illinois Library Association From the bustling streets of Cairo to the quiet corners of New Brunswick, Canada, illustrator Hatem Aly has navigated a path as dynamic and expressive as the artwork he creates. Born and raised in Egypt’s capital, Aly moved to Canada in 2007 and brought with him a passion for visual storytelling that has since flourished in the world of children’s literature. “I’ve been drawing and making up stories–mostly comics–since I can remember,” Aly says. Despite a lifelong interest in art, he didn’t always see illustration as his destined career.

“It didn’t feel like a calling. I was still figuring out what I could do in life.” He studied fine arts but remained unsure of where it would lead. Although he didn’t grow up with picture books, comic books deeply influenced his understanding of visual storytelling. Over time, small illustration projects and personal experimentation sparked a deeper love for the craft. “That’s when I fell in love with it and wanted to do more.

Yes, please.” Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader living in a big city who's always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers. This series has multiple titles. This volume includes "Yasmin" stories that are also published separately: Yasmin the Explorer; Yasmin the Painter; Yasmin the Builder; and Yasmin the Fashionista.

In this collection of four stories, Yasmin takes charge of some sticky situations! At home, at school, or out and about, Yasmin faces challenges head on with creativity and quick thinking. Whether she's creating a new recipe, finding a way to rescue a stuck toy for a little friend, or calming down monkeys (and classmates!), a clever solution to any problem is just around the... Everyone seems to have a great idea for the makerspace project, everyone except for Yasmin! All the good ideas are taken. Luckily, recess solves everything!

Inspiration strikes and Yasmin creates something that brings the whole class together. Yasmin loves hosting parties! Music, friends, fun! But what she doesn't love is the spicy food her Pakistani family serves. Yasmin puts on her chef hat and plans to make her own amazing, fantastic recipe...as soon as she figures out what that is! This volume includes "Yasmin" stories that are also published separately: Yasmin the Explorer; Yasmin the Painter; Yasmin the Builder; and Yasmin the Fashionista.

From the life cycle that starts with a seed to the conditions it takes to grow healthy plants, these books offer a great introduction to the world of plants! These bilingual books in English and Spanish introduce kids to a wide range of animals — some of their favorites and some they've never heard of! Now in board book, Every Little Thing brings Bob Marley's beloved song to life "Three Little Birds" for a new generation. You and your baby are perfect just as you are.

Hatem Aly Colorín Colorado

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