Mommy, Am I American?: Aila Malik
Mommy, Am I American? is about a boy’s curiosity about his own identity. When he asks his mom about what it means to be “American,” he finds her profoundly conflicted by the simultaneous love and pain she holds for America, leaving the boy to make his own conclusion. With innocence and wonderment, this boy raises the question of the day and interprets his mom’s answer through compassionate action, all by himself. This beautifully illustrated story reminds us of our founding “American ideals” of freedom, inclusion, and justice for all people, while inviting us to affirm the definition of patriotism, as showing care for others.