Review by Erin Wilson

This colorfully illustrated ten-chapter picture book begins with three young girls who stumble upon a peculiar object, which turns out to be a deflated basketball. Eager to learn more, they start researching the game by watching online videos and observing boys playing at the park. However, Rizwana’s mother informs her that playing isn’t safe and asserts that girls don’t participate in sports. Despite these discouraging words, Rizwana and her friends are determined to continue playing basketball, as they excel at it and derive great enjoyment from the sport.

They face a relentless stream of negativity that reinforces the societal belief that girls shouldn’t engage in sports. Undeterred by these challenges, they remain passionate about playing and occasionally find support here and there. Rizwana’s father emerges as their strongest advocate. With a joint letter from several parents to the principal, the girls successfully rally to form their own team and pursue their love for basketball.

Rizwana and her friends demonstrate passion and courage in overcoming all odds. Her uplifting message to every reader is that if you truly want something, keep pursuing it, and your dreams will come true. In particular, within the context of Bangladesh, there are still significant strides to be made in the acceptance of women in sports. For example, when the Bangladesh women’s national football team won the SAFF Women’s Championship in 2022, they showcased strength and positive images of female athletes. All support for female athletes continues to help girls pursue their dreams, be healthy, and happy. This book will make a great addition to a collection that supports sports, persistence, and female athletes.

Pass it to Rizwana is a collaborative effort of UNICEF Bangladesh Child Protection Section, DESHI Ballers, and HerStory Foundation. 

Title Information: Pass it to Rizwana

Author: Crystal Pottebaum

Illustrator: Ishrat Jahan Shaira

ISBN: 9789849702504

Publisher: HerStory Foundation

Date: 2022

Language, English, Bengali

Translated by Sizan Ahmed Jim,

Author Bio: Born in Iowa, Crystal moved to Bangladesh to teach at the American International School of Dhaka. During the school lockdown, she started coaching and playing with the Deshi Ballers. She became aware of the challenges female athletes face in pursuing their passion for sports. Inspired by their dedication, Crystal wrote the book based on the stories she heard from her teammates and the girls she played with. She hopes this book will help make sports more accessible and acceptable for girls in Bangladesh and around the world.

Translated by Sizan Ahmed Jim

Illustrator Bio: Ishrat Jahan Shaira

I am an Illustrator, Animator and a Graphic Designer with over 5 years of professional work experience. Currently, I am working as a lead animator and illustrator in an ed -tech company where I have the privilege of creating contents that cater to the education sector, helping to bring important concepts to life for students and educators alike. Over the years I have worked with clients from Bangladesh,India,Sri Lanka, UK, Canada collaborating with renowned local agencies and publications. My versatility and ability to adapt to different cultural and design perspectives have allowed me to create impactful designs for each project. I find joy in every project I undertake, and my dedication to delivering high quality work stems from my love for what I do.

Reviewer Bio:

Erin Wilson currently works as a Teacher Librarian in Dhaka, Bangladesh and has worked internationally for 10 years in the following countries; China, India, and now Bangladesh. She has vast experience working in diverse cultures from Native American students to inner-city students and the international community. Her other passion lies in studying Asian dances. Currently she is focused on Odissi classical dance, and uses this dance vocabulary for storytelling in the library to actively engage children. It’s never boring in the library. 

You can follow the school where she works, International School Dhaka Instagram: @ isd_library

Opinions expressed in posts on this site are the individual author’s and are not indicative of the views of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative.