Farah's Nose by author Humera Malik (The Great Henna Party) and illustrator Chaaya Prabhat (World Kitchen) is a rewarding picture book that demonstrates how an understanding of history can help a child learn to love the little--or big, strong, and prominent--parts of herself.
Farah's classmates all have "small noses, cute noses, button noses." Farah, however, has a "long. Pointy. Hooked" nose. She tries wearing glasses to make it look smaller, a scarf to cover it up, even a diamond nose ring to make it sparkle, but nothing makes her hate it less. Mama calls her nose "strong" and Dadi Ama says her "whole face is a map of who [she comes] from." Farah doesn't understand what her family means until she visits a South Asian photography exhibit and is surrounded by "faces that look... like hers," all featuring the same black hair, brown eyes, and prominent nose. She learns the women in these photos were brave, hardworking, and determined activists, trailblazers, and leaders. Finally, Farah understands what it means to have a "strong" nose that maps her own proud history.
Malik's earnest focus on one body part allows for a definitive path to self-acceptance while also depicting what it feels like to grow up looking or feeling different. Farah's initial discouragement and confusion is relatable, and her growth and shift in perspective are satisfying. Prabhat's illustrations use dynamic layouts and a palette of warm reds, yellows, and browns offset by hues of blue to celebrate Farah's burgeoning pride in her heritage. Farah's Nose is an excellent read-alike for fans of Peter Reynolds and lovers of Vashti Harrison's Big. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author