That's Not My Name! - by Anoosha Syed (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mirha questions her name after her classmates continually pronounce it wrong on the first day of school so her mother helps her to learn the significance of her name and to be proud of it.

Book Synopsis

A debut picture book about loving your name, finding your voice, and standing up for yourself from the critically acclaimed illustrator of Bilal Cooks Daal and I Am Perfectly Designed.

Mirha is so excited for her first day of school! She can't wait to learn, play, and make new friends. But when her classmates mispronounce her name, she goes home wondering if she should find a new one. Maybe then she'd be able to find a monogrammed keychain at the gas station or order a hot chocolate at the cafe more easily.

Mama helps Mirha to see how special her name is, and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly--even if it takes a hundred tries.

Review Quotes

A 2023 Blue Spruce Award Nominee
A Bank Street Best Books of the Year 2023 Selection

"Affirming and empowering; a story that will resonate with many children and a lot of adults, too."
-Kirkus Reviews

"Syed's book uses clarity in the dialogue, the emotions, and in the intent, featuring only well-meaning teachers and children who want to get it right. Her illustrated school scenes are so familiar while Mirha's posture translates her every feeling, with or without the text. . . A great first-day story for breaking the ice." -School Library Journal

"Saturated illustrations spotlight a candy-colored classroom environment, and classmates of varied abilities and skin tones, while accessible text offers a useful script that even invites readers to introduce themselves." -Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator based in Toronto. She has a passion for creating cute characters with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and has illustrated many best-loved books for children. She is the illustrator of Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed. Bug Girl and Bug Girl: Fury on the Dance Floor, as well as I Am Perfectly Designed, written by Karamo Brown, and the Monster and Boy chapter book series, written by Hannah Barnaby.

When Anoosha isn't drawing for work, she's drawing for fun (she doesn't really have any other hobbies).