Under My Hijab by Hena Khan

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan
Review by Danae Ross

I was immediately drawn to this book when I saw the cover: on the front there is a brown girl in a pink
hijab with a big smile, and big, clear eyes. This book follows a young girl as she interacts with a lot of
different women that are important in her life. It shows the women leading interesting and fulfilling public
lives and careers - all in their hijabs. Then, it contrasts their equally fulfilling private lives - outside of their
hijabs. As the story follows the different characters, it highlights how each woman is unique in the way
she wears her hijab, her interests and hobbies, her career, and the role she chooses to take.

I think this is a really useful book for an elementary classroom and I would recommend teachers
reading it to their students in the lower grades. I think any books with hijabs are a great addition to the
classroom because students often feel uncomfortable asking about hijabs, or they limit the wearer’s
identity to being simply about the hijab - they ignore the person under the hijab.

It helps clear up misconceptions for children that are not familiar with hijabs, like (as the author
says in her book interview): “Do you have hair under there?” “Do you have ears?” “Do you sleep with
that on?” I think it helps students see their Muslim friends and classmates as someone much less
different than themselves; it helps them realize that hijab is something important, but it doesn’t change
how human a person is.

This book shows that women that wear a hijab are making a choice to wear one, their identity is not
limited by their hijab, and they are all unique and different people. I also think this book has a great
message for women in general. I love how each woman in the story has their own sense of style,
diverse careers, various hobbies, and they are not limited by their looks or any “traditional” women’s
roles.

Check out the author talking about Under My Hijab on Good Morning Washington:

Good Morning Washington Interview (Alternate Link)

Or a longer interview with the author: