Next month, Abtaha Maqsood, the first woman to wear a Hijab while taking part in The Hundred, follows in their footsteps when she reads Not Now, Noor! by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani to mark South Asian Heritage Month. The heart-warming tale is about Noor, who is curious to find out why the women in her family wear headscarves. It’s the first of two stories Abtaha will read for CBeebies.

Not Now, Noor! by Farhana Islam - LoveReading4Kids

A window for many children into a family that is not like their own but also a mirror for children who struggle to find themselves on a bookshelf. About This Edition ISBN: This heart-warming yet funny tale is a celebration of Muslim women, curious children, and family love. Abtaha says: “I absolutely loved reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story, it’s like nothing I’ve ever done before and I’m really excited to see it come to life. Both the stories I read are a great reminder that you can be whoever you want to be, no matter who you are, what religion you follow or what you choose to wear.” Abtaha’s story will air on Friday 14 July. Both the stories I read are a great reminder that you can be whoever you want to be, no matter who you are, what religion you follow or what you choose to wear. — Abtaha Maqsood Noor is curious and full of questions and, whilst she knows what her ammu’s hijab is not, she is determined to learn why the women in her family wear a hijab …From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada: This gutsy, vivid, gruesomely humorous retelling of the seminal Irish myth is perfectly judged for folklore addicts of 8+, with text heightened by brawny, satisfying illustrations. The vibrant illustrations are just stunning and really capture the warmth and humour in the story as well as the closeness of Noor’s loving family. Full of curiousity, Noor sets out to find her answer, but her family are all busy and have no time to answer this important question. Just as Noor is ready to give up on her quest, her Ammu arrives home and knows just the thing to say.

Not Now, Noor! | BookTrust Not Now, Noor! | BookTrust

Noor is a curious little girl, her head is always full of questions. The biggest question on her mind is why her Ammu (mum) and the other women in her family wear a hijab (headscarf). Being non-binary has never been a problem for 11-year-old Jamie – until secondary school looms, and the only two options are the boys’ school or the girls’. Suddenly Jamie and their friends find themselves protesting from the rooftops. Will Jamie ever find the place they belong? A sensitive, moving 9+ story about fighting for acceptance and change.

About Farhana Islam

With games across both competitions set to take place in the biggest stadia in the country, and multiple matches also to be broadcast on the BBC, fans will have numerous chances to watch the women’s teams in action.

Not Now, Noor! By Farhana Islam | Used | 9780241552476 Not Now, Noor! By Farhana Islam | Used | 9780241552476

Previous sports stars who have read a CBeebies Bedtime Story include Rob Burrow, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Anthony Joshua, Harry Kane and Leah Williamson. Other famous faces to have appeared on the daily slot include Rose Ayling Ellis, Tom Hardy, Dolly Parton, Harry Styles and Kate Winslet. This leads to lots of wonderfully warm-hearted humour as Noor lets her imagination create her own ideas whilst her family are too busy to answer her questions … until her ammu helps her understand the importance of the hijab to Muslim women: a very powerful message of community and identity.Airing on Friday 9 June, the Sciver-Brunts will become the first LGBTQ+ couple to feature on the programme, and will read Find Your Happy by Emily Coxhead, a book all about what a wonderful thing it is to feel happy. With vibrant illustrations, the uplifting story follows a sloth who shows little ones what to do if they’re feeling sad or angry, frightened or shy. It’s the first of two stories to be read by the couple for CBeebies. Eleven-year-old Kofi is a dreamer who loves swimming, his elders’ stories and his friend Ama. When a village celebration leads to sudden death, though, Kofi’s everyday happiness is ripped away, leaving only dreams to set him free. Set in modern-day Ghana, Alexander’s verse novel for 12+ is a visceral, gripping coming-of-age story. Not Now, Noor! is a wonderful, heartfelt celebration of Muslim women, of family and of identity which deserves a place in both homes and primary school libraries where its humour, warmth and gorgeous illustrations will delight young readers as they learn about the importance of hijabs.