Joof, Emily. Halima, Superhero Princess. Asa Gilland, Illus. Floris, 09/2024. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.95. 978-1-78250-884-7. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.
Halima can’t decide who to dress up as for a party, and is told by a playmate she can’t be Elsa from Frozen or other characters because “you don’t look like them.” Halima is Black, so this is particularly hurtful, and her mother describes several great Black women she could dress as, from Beyonce to Maya Angelou. Originally published in Sweden in 2022, the plot is similar to Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman (Dial, 1991), but it will be useful to many families and a good lesson in kindness. The hand-drawn and digitally colored illustrations show both Halima and her mother with dark skin and natural curly black hair. This can be used for social and emotional learning, and ends with a chart of the two dozen women the mother suggested as role models for Halima.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool