by Anoosha Syed
 
“If people can remember names like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and Michelangelo, they can remember Mirha!” 
 
Mirha is so very, very excited, It’s her first day at Big School! Baba has made her favourite pancake breakfast; Mama and Nani see her off with kisses and waves.  She stands proudly in front of her new class and tells everyone her name. All of them smile and are welcoming- but none of the children and not many of the teachers seem to be able to pronounce "Mirha" properly. Hayden asks if they could all call her something a bit "easier", like "Maya".  
 
Mirha wonders if she should just change her name altogether? But Mama isn’t happy with that idea. She reminds Mirha that her name was specially chosen for her, that it means, ‘happiness’ in Arabic.  And so, Mirha starts over the next day and with her new, blossoming confidence, she corrects the other children. Soon, all the other children, from Siobhan to Dmitry to Alko share the genesis of their own unique names. 
 
‘Explores themes of names and identity well with sensitivity and consideration’ (Farrah, CLPE Research & Development Director, Letterbox Library reviewer). ‘An inclusive story that hopefully helps children to find their own voice’. (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, Letterbox Library reviewer). [Secondary disabled characters: child wears hearing aid; a wheelchair user who we also see using an adapted spade in the sandpit]. Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp
 
Themes: Disabilities