Nestled in the heart of Chicago is an elementary teacher known as Ms. Ali. I knew of her, as she is a favorite among her students and parents, but I never had the pleasure of meeting her until recently. On a very average Monday, I walked thru the city to a red brick elementary school and met the "anything but average" Nishat Firdous Jehan Ali. With a warm presence and smile, she greeted me like an old friend and then did something that no one had done to me in over 30 years.
She read me a story.
Correction - she read me HER story, "My Loving World", the beautiful children's book she recently published and launched in Chicago, Houston, Austin, and Los Angeles.
Illustrated by Hector Ivan Garcia this is the story of a boy whose family moves to Big City, where he will be starting at a new school. Initially, the boy is uncomfortable meeting so many people from different cultures and religions but with time he learns that these differences are worth celebrating and what makes them worth knowing. "My Loving World" is one of the first books I have read which not only introduces multiple cultures in one story but shares its message with words that are pure enough that even readers as young as kindergarten will appreciate it. This book will be entertaining, relatable, and educational, for everyone who reads it, but especially for the kids who are in kindergarten thru fourth grades.
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A beautiful reminder of how it is easy to get caught up in focusing only on what makes us different from one another and how when we open our hearts and minds those differences can become the very things that make us cool.
As a parent, one of my favorite benefits of raising a family in Chicago is the diversity we are exposed to on a regular basis. I know my children are naturally more accepting by living, playing & learning in an environment which introduces them to different cultures, lifestyles, and religions daily. I just hope that they never lose that ability to be open to what is new and are never so scared of what is different that it prevents them from a new friend or a new experience.
To learn more about Ms. Nishat Firdous Jehan Ali or connect in regards to "My Loving World", please contact her at:
E-mail: mylovingworldchildrensbook@gmail.com
Currently, you are able to purchase "My Loving World" on Amazon, and hope to have it on local bookstore shelves soon!
