I have been trying and trying to get my hands on Hasan Namir and Cathryn John’s beautiful story The Name I Call Myself after hearing it at Word on the Street last fall. Unfortunately, Toronto Public Library does not have it in their catalogue (don’t worry I have put in a request through their request line). It seems to me that this book should have been picked up right away. It’s a beautiful story about a child’s journey to knowing their authentic selves and sharing that with the world.

Hasan Namir lovingly shares the story of a child growing up and all of their feelings and questions about their identity. They struggle with expectations from their family and society but ultimately find themselves, neither girl nor boy, and discover the joy of feeling truly comfortable in their skin.

I love how Hasan Namir has created this beautifully, flowing text, starting each page with an age and explaining the feelings they have at each stage of development. It’s chronological and, developmentally, a story you can revisit over and over. It can grow with your reader. 

Cathryn John has beautifully captured all of Ari’s feelings through her dynamic illustrations. The art is stunning. It is joyful and pained, just look at the page when Ari is eleven, blank faces of their peers surround them as they move in a shadow. 

The Name I Call Myself is an incredible addition to any bookshelf.