Most of us have dreams or goals we want to achieve, but how many of us are willing to persevere through all the obstacles standing in our way?

SALMA JOINS THE TEAM (written by Danny Ramadan, illustrated by Anna Bron, published by Annick Press) is the third book in the “Salma” series, a collection of early reader chapter books. In this latest instalment, Salma is mesmerized by her hero, Yusra Mardini, a Syrian Olympic champion swimmer. Inspired, Salma decides to sign up for her school swim team, despite not knowing how to swim! Through her determination and hard work, she makes the team and feels like she is one step being closer to her Olympic dream. But will gossipy, mean comments about her body and her Muslim identity derail her from her goal? How will Salma balance her personal values, comfort, and identity with the demands of being a swimmer? Will the support of her family and friends be enough?

SALMA JOINS THE TEAM is the epitome of an identity-affirming book. Readers of Syrian backgrounds and Muslim backgrounds will be able to relate to Salma, as well as readers who have had to navigate through gossip, mean naysayers, and body image issues. This story will also resonate with readers who have experience with moving to a new country, and learning to adjust to a new environment.

The newest offering in Danny Ramadan's Salma series explores themes of faith, self-belief and modesty. s
Salma is keen to be a star swimmer like her idol Yusra Mardini. While initially reluctant, Salma's parents are supportive of her swimming dreams. She faces adversities in the form of gossipy girls at the swimming pool, judgemental women from her Mosque, and her own internalised concerns about modesty and what feels comfortable for Salma when she swims in public. As this is an early chap, it has a nice neat happy ending, with Salma facing her internal and external fears ar a swim meet, with her while community there to support her.
I am a huge fan of Danny Ramadan's, and of the Salma series. This did not disappoint. While some of the topics may seem specific to the Syrian or Muslim experience, this is An accessible and enjoyable read for all .

This is the fourth book in the Salma series. Salma is a Syrian Canadian navigating school, peer relationships and new experiences. She has been glued to the TV watching her idol, Yusra Mardini, a Olympic swimmer and is inspired to become a swimming star too. There are many obstacles in her way though. Her family is concerned about the lack of modesty a swimsuit provides, she has not swam in a pool before, and there is even talk about her at the mosque. She is also discouraged by some of the older girls at school saying mean things about her.

This is an early chapter book that has a great message and illustrations that children of this age will enjoy. Some of Salma's inner dialogue is mature for her age but that did not detract from the message or enjoyment of the book. This is a great read for children who might need a self-esteem boost or help navigating challenging situations with peers and adults alike.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #AnnickPress and Danny Ramadan for this ARC it was a pleasure to read!
#SalmaJoinstheTeam

In this continuation of the Salma series, Salma develops an interest in swimming because of her admiration for the Olympian Yusra Mardini, who is also a Syrian refugee. Salma's Muslim parents aren't sure about this at first, due to modesty concerns, but quickly encourage Salma to follow her dream.

Over the course of the book, Salma deals with negative comments from other girls on the swim team, gossip and judgment from women in her Muslim community, and frustration over the double standards for boys and girls in the same sport. She also explores her feelings about modesty, and decides to wear a swimsuit that covers more of her body. The book emphasizes that she is doing this for herself, not because of other people's opinions.

Unfortunately, as Salma comes to this conclusion and deals with other issues, the dialogue feels very unnatural. This made me think of another early chapter book about swimming, Mindy Kim Makes a Splash!, because both books share didactic concepts through forced-sounding dialogue.

The dialogue feels especially off when Salma and her other young friends say things that sound very grown up. Kids can certainly say very thoughtful and mature things, but they'll express them from a child's perspective, without adult vocabulary and presentation. Some of the conversations in this story felt like the kinds of example scripts you'd see in a parenting book.

Despite that flaw, this book covers a number of important topics while also having a genuinely engaging storyline, and the illustrations are charming and fun. This book will appeal to fans of the Salma series, and people who haven't read the other books can easily get into this one without prior knowledge.

Salma Joins the Team is the 4th book I've read in the Salma Series written by Danny Ramadan. The first three were such wonderful reads so I knew I had to read this one immediately, and I am so glad I did!

In this early readers chapter book, Salma decides to join her school's swimming team, despite having never learned to swim because she wants to be a champion swimmer, just like her Olympic hero, Yusra Mardini. Initially excited to pursue her dreams, she then comes across mean comments from older girls and the women at her mosque regarding her body image, which lowers her self-esteem and self-confidence.

This book was fantastic because we get to learn how Salma overcomes all these through her perseverance, creative thinking, and her supportive circle of family and friends. What an inspiring character!