Award Winning Children’s Book Author
Former Teacher and Educator at Heart
Travels from: Philadelphia, PA

“Muslim children are the center of the stories I tell. Whether their faith is explicitly shown or not, the characters are unapologetically Muslim. I hope that every Muslim child who reads my books is also seeing a message that runs through all my stories: be boldly you, appreciate you, appreciate every part of you.” -Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, M.S.Ed, is a Philadelphia-based, award-winning children’s book author. A former English teacher, she educated children and teens in traditional and alternative learning settings for more than 15 years. As an inaugural fellow with the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC), she also developed foundational curricular frameworks for youth and adult anti-racist programming and this work continues to influence her writing. Her picture books and middle grade fiction, which feature young Black and Muslim protagonists, have been recognized as the best in children’s literature by Time Magazine, NCTE, and NPR, and she is a 2021 Irma Black Award Honor author.

A former teacher and forever educator at heart, she is probably most proud that her picture book Your Name Is a Song was named a NEA Read Across America book and that it is included in the standardized curriculums of major school districts throughout the United States. In addition to producing children’s literature, she invests her time in the mentorship of aspiring children’s book authors through multiple programs including We Need Diverse Books and the Muslim Storytellers Fellowship of the Highlights Foundation where she is also a program committee member.

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Coming Soon!

Name pronunciations from the picture book Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Luisa Uribe.

Mommy’s Khimar Trailer
https://www.google.com/search?q=jamilah+thompkins-bigelow+youtube&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiap4z7s8j9AhW1PH0KHXuaD9EQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=921&bih=883&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bf9daaf7,vid:yVJfQYUybZ0

FREE Your Name is a Song Printables

Your Name is a Song: Activities for Elementary Music

Abdul’s Story: Discussion & Activities

Your Name is a Song: Sheet Music

Mommy’s Khimar: Discussion Questions

Here’s a link to Jamilah’s Author Resource Page

Here’s a link to Jamilah’s Teaching Resource Page

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Won a 2022 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids
2021 Irma Black Award Honor author
Your Name is a Song was named NEA Read Across America book
Jamilah’s books have been recognized as the best in children’s literature by:
Time Magazine, NCTE & NPR

Media Kit

By clicking the link below your will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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