Publisher Description

Inspiring and empowering – four brave children face the challenges and opportunities of today's world.

"Somewhere, out there,
In the wide, wide world,
a child like you is
Watching…"

Four brave children watch, listen, search, and feel, as they experience the inequalities, dangers and injustices of life in our world.

Inspired by real-life activists and campaigners Greta Thunberg, Yusra Mardini, Marley Dias and Iqbal Masih, each of these children is filled with courage, determination and hope. They campaign to help save the planet, show that refugees can contribute and show leadership in sport in their new land, they build a library of 1000 books depicting black girls, they speak out against the outrage of child slavery.

Lyrical and powerful, this book is a passionate call to children everywhere to speak their truth and stand up for a better world.

Author Biography

Na'ima B Robert is the award-winning author of over 25 diverse and inclusive books for all ages, from picture books to YA fiction, that have been translated into more than 14 languages. Her picture book Ramadan Moon, with Shirin Adl, became an international bestseller, celebrating the month of Ramadan for younger children. Na'ima is the founder of Sisters, the acclaimed magazine for Muslim women across the world, and was its editor-in-chief for ten years. Na'ima lives in Yorkshire.

Nadine Kaadan is an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Syria now living in London. She is published in several countries and languages and her mission is to champion empowered and inclusive representation in children's books so that every child can see themselves in a story. Nadine's work with young refugees in mitigating post-conflict trauma has captured the attention of CNN and the BBC, both of which have broadcast special features on her books Tomorrow and The Jasmine Sneeze. She has been nominated for a Kate Greenaway Medal, and is the 2019 winner of the Arab British Centre Award for Culture. Nadine was selected as one of The BBC 100 Women 2020's 'most influential and inspiring women', and was featured on their BBC 100 Women masterclass.

Review

"A rousing tribute to the courage and grit and righteous hope of children." * Letterbox Library *
"A Child Like you will encourage children in KS1 upwards to empathise with and speak out for those in the world who are oppressed and dispossessed. The four main characters are both relatable and accessible for younger readers. Sensitivity exploring issues such as climate change, refugees, free speech and child slavery, this powerfully illustrated picture book is highly recommended for primary school libraries." -- Tom Tolkien * School Reading List *
"While Na'ima B. Robert's text is lyrical, moving and descriptive, Nadine Kaadan offers symbolic tones and movement in her pictures. Altogether, it means that A Child Like You is a meaningful, heartfelt and urgent picture book to share, discuss and inspire." * Bookwagon *
"This powerful picture book for 5+ readers describes four children's fears and worries – climate catastrophe, lack of representation, feeling lost and alone – before showing the same children finding ways to fight back, "because the world can be a hopeful place" too." * The Guardian *
"A Child Like You is an ardent, yet authoritative work that can help young children to think about their role in shaping the world around them... I particularly enjoyed the inviting double-page spreads created by Kaadan, feeling as if the characters were dynamic, moving across the page as each reveals their story... This would be a wonderful book to stimulate discussion of powerful figures in our living history and also to discuss what differences we can make every day to contribute to society as a whole..." -- Nikki Gamble * Just Imagine *
"This is an empowering book showing that each of these young people who have made a difference is, in the words of the title, 'a child like you,' young readers will feel they too can make their voices heard and stimulate change; they do matter." * Books for Keeps *
"Beautifully illustrated and presented, speaking directly in a sensitive, heartfelt manner to young readers, author Na'ima and illustrator Nadine celebrate the four children featured, whose actions will surely act as a rallying cry for all children, showing that no matter what, there is always hope…These four youngsters show the way that other children too – children like them – can also be the change, make the change happen and inspire others to make changes, to speak out strongly on behalf of the dispossessed and the oppressed – to stand up for human rights and make our world a better place for everyone. A book for all KS1 classrooms." -- Jill Bennett * Red Reading Hub *
"A stunning look into how our world can be changed by young voices across the planet." -- Sue Martin * Books Go Walkabout *
"A thought-provoking and inspirational picture book... addressing the themes of poverty, refugees, climate change, representation in literature, child slavery and hope...I enjoyed the poetic text alongside the stunning illustrations... this is a vital book to have in your collection." -- Jenny Griffiths * School Library Association Journal *

Review Quote

"This book's poetic words and playful, patterned collage artwork capture both the solemnity and joy of religious practice and, in scenes of worshippers of every type and hue, show the diversity of the Muslim community around the world." -- Booklist on Ramadan Moon "The plain, first-person prose follows the viewpoints of individual young people across generations. . . . The personal stories get straight to the meaning of home." -- Booklist on Far From Home

Description for Sales People

A picture book offering hope when the world seems overwhelming - hope in the form of political organizing Back matter with short bios of Greta Thunberg, Yusra Mardini, Marley Dias, and Iqbal Masih Marley Dias (#thousandblackgirlbooks) is based in New Jersey Marley Dias's 2018 book Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You has sold 33k+ copies Na'ima B. Robert's picture books and adult nonfiction are known for Muslim representation

Details