Archives for March 1, 2026

An intensely brave, gorgeously written story about a gay Muslim teen who has to choose between being true to himself or his faith—and his realization that maybe they aren’t as separate as he thought.

Now a senior at the top-ranked high school for Muslim teenagers, Pakistani Canadian Ramin can’t wait for the fresh start of college. He’s spent his whole life following the word of Allah, his parents, and his imam. His parents immigrated from Pakistan, sacrificing everything for him and his little brother, and expect Ramin to be halal in all things, meet a nice Muslim girl, and settle into devout family life. However, Ramin’s heart wishes for something—or someone—else: the strong, athletic captain of the soccer team. But at school, being gay is definitely haram, not allowed, so Ramin limits himself to dreams of moving away to New York City.

Then Ramin learns his graduation is in jeopardy, and the only chance he’s given to get the needed physical education credits quickly is to join the school’s soccer team…and train one-on-one with Fahad, a.k.a. Captain Handsome. It’s a nightmare of temptation and resistance, compounded by threats from a longtime bully who is blackmailing Ramin, threatening to reveal a secret that could ruin him. Ramin’s only ray of light is Omar, a sweet and caring new friend whose family believes in a different, kinder Allah. He gently prods Ramin to consider his faith more deeply, challenging Ramin’s long held belief of Allah as merciless and unforgiving by introducing him to one who is instead merciful and loving.

With graduation, a championship soccer match, and the blackmail looming, the pressure on Ramin is too much to keep buried. He must decide between the consequences of speaking his truth and living a lie. He must decide which Allah lives in the little mosque in his heart.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ahmad Saber is a medical doctor specializing in rheumatology and internal medicine. Born and raised in Pakistan, Ahmad and his family moved to Canada while he was in high school. Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions is his debut novel and based in part on his own life. You can find him on Instagram @ItsAhmadSaber.

This big kid is wearing his first pair of big-kid shoes, the kind with laces! Even though they’re a little on the roomy side—shoes to grow into, of course—he knows he can take care of them. Except they keep falling off! Not to worry, he’ll just tie them up again, because he knows how to tie those loops! But wait a second, where did that darn shoe go? Nothing is ever truly easy when you’re just starting something new; but, just like with any stage in childhood, whether it’s making your first steps, or going down the really big slide, with persistence, doing anything scary or overwhelming quickly becomes a piece of cake! And before you know it, you’re a BIG KID!

About the author-illustrator: Author-illustrator Jashar Awan won a Caldecott Honor for his picture book Every Monday Mabel. Growing up outside of Washington, DC, Jashar loved drawing and reading. In fact, he still does. For many years, he drew illustrations for publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, American Medical News, and Columbia Journalism Review. Jashar made his debut as an author-illustrator with What a Lucky Day!. Publishers Weekly spotlighted him as one of the most promising children’s debut authors of fall 2020. His book Only Ants for Andy was selected for the 2023 and 2024 Choose to Read Ohio booklist. Jashar is also the creator of Strum & Drum: A Merry Little Quest, I’m Going to Build a Snowman, Every Monday Mabel, and Loops. He lives in Ohio with his wife, Emily, and their son, Maxwell, who loves drawing and reading, too.

Also look for this one! (See below)

THE SPIDER STRIKES by Michael P. Spradlin 

Amid the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany, a twelve-year-old boy and his friends confront rising Nazi threats during a family trip to Austria in this third book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.

It is engaging and definitely action-packed!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Cover images were also provided.

A small goat with big dreams gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball, a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Braedyn M. comments, “GOAT is the absolute, well, G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time)!  Fast paced action, innovative animation styles, a strong and relatable storyline, plus basketball Easter eggs and nods galore, all work together to create a film that proves once and for all that anyone can dream big.” Kennedy P. adds, “The new animated film Goat comes out of the gate strong and never misses a shot. The film delivers high energy, heart, and style. I love how confidently Goat blends sports excitement with emotional storytelling.” Julie O. wraps it up with, “The film’s messages include follow your dreams, never give-up, and embrace the qualities that make us unique. There are also messages about the importance of family and friends and a reminder that there is so much more to every individual than what we see on the surface.” See their full reviews below.     

GOAT
By Braedyn M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

GOAT is the absolute, well, G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time)!  Fast paced action, innovative animation styles, a strong and relatable storyline, plus basketball Easter eggs and nods galore, all work together to create a film that proves once and for all that anyone can dream big.   

Will Harris (Caleb McLaughlin) is one of the best Roarball players in the town of Vineland, and he pursues the dream of one day joining the big leagues to play for his hometown team, the Thorns. There is just one… small problem. Will is a goat, and no animal his size has ever even attempted to set foot on the court. But that’s all about to change. When Will gets the golden opportunity he’s been waiting for to join the team, he jumps at the chance. Unfortunately his towering teammates aren’t exactly stoked that he’s joining their ranks. However, with a little work, Will is determined to win over his team and show the world that “smalls can ball!”

What set this film apart from others is the level of authenticity and attention to detail that it provides. I had the opportunity to go onsite at Sony Pictures Animation and meet some of the creatives that worked on this film. From John Clark, GOAT’s head of cinematography, and Keely Propp, the head of story, I discovered that many of the Roarball play sequences were inspired by actual basketball plays used by the Golden State Warriors. The moves were modeled like a game of chess using 3D printed incarnations of the characters before being animated. Speaking of the animation, the style is unique and very fast, with camera angles that zoom right into the middle of the action. It felt like I was on the court with the team! The storyline is one that I am able to appreciate, with Will giving his all to make his mother, Louise Harris (Jennifer Hudson) proud. The other members of the Thorns, Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll), Olivia Burke (Nicola Coughlan), Archie Everhardt (David Harbour), and Lenny Williamson (Stephen Curry) have unusual chemistry, and Will’s small-town personality clashing with their big-league personas is a great source of humor. Jett has been Will’s hero since forever and, though things start off rocky between them, they soon learn to trust each other, and work together with the team.

This film’s message is that no one is too small to dream big. Though Will might be the smallest player in all of Roarball history, he doesn’t let that stop him from bringing his team together, and becoming the G.O.A.T.

I give GOAT 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on February 13, 2025.

GOAT
By Kennedy P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The new animated film Goat comes out of the gate strong and never misses a shot. The film delivers high energy, heart, and style. I love how confidently Goat blends sports excitement with emotional storytelling. It’s the kind of movie that had me cheering from the get go, laughing on the sidelines, and fully invested in every play.

Goat is an animated sports comedy following Will, a small underdog goat with big dreams to play “roarball,” a high-intensity, full-contact sport dominated by large animals. Produced with Stephen Curry, the film follows Will’s journey to prove that “smalls can ball” in a story inspired by overcoming odds. 

Set against a sports-driven backdrop, the story centers on perseverance, teamwork, and finding your inner strength when it matters most. As the pressure builds and challenges mount, the journey becomes less about winning the game and more about discovering what it truly means to have heart. The characters are dynamic, relatable, and full of personality, each bringing their own strengths to the court. The music is phenomenal, perfectly amplifying the emotion and adrenaline of every major moment. The bold animation style, vibrant colors, and eye-popping visuals are truly a feast for the eyes, every frame feels alive and in motion. Combined with a sports-driven storyline, nonstop visual creativity and an all-star voice cast, which includes Stephen Curry as the voice of Lenny, a giraffe, Gabrielle Union, who voices Jett, a black panther, and Caleb McLaughlin, who voices Will, a goat. Goat plays like a fast break straight to the hoop, keeping audiences engaged and energized the entire time. It is truly an animated slam dunk that proves Sony Animation is still playing at an elite level. With its uplifting themes and emotional payoff, Goat proves that when you trust your game and keep pushing forward, anything is possible.

Goat delivers a powerful message about self-confidence, resilience, and never giving up, even when you miss a few shots along the way. It reminds viewers that greatness isn’t just about talent, but about heart, determination, and believing in yourself when it counts.

I give Goat 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults.  So lace up your sneakers and sprint to the theaters to watch it on Friday, February 13, 2026.

GOAT
By Julie O, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I love this film! GOAT is a fun filled, humorous, inspirational animated story that made me feel happy throughout the film. I found myself laughing and being drawn into the plot and caring about each character’s storyline.

GOAT is about a young goat, Will (Caleb McLaughlin) who dreams of playing professional Roarball. He works hard and trains until one day his wish comes true. However, he has a lot to learn about being on a team, believing in yourself, and never giving up. His teammates, Jett (Gabrielle Union), Lenny (Stephen Curry), Olivia (Nicola Coughlan), Archie (David Harbour) and Modo (Nick Kroll) are along for the journey with their own challenges.

This is one of those films that is a feast for your eyes. The background animation looks like it comes from a story book and every scene is filled to the brim with details. The film also includes camera angles that make it feel like you are there in the story instead of feeling like you are watching from the audience. There are so many details that I plan to watch this film again to see what I missed the first time. It excels in incorporating modern trends and music. I love the creativity that went into making each stadium where Roarball is played.  I really like how each character is developed with anthropomorphic behaviors unique to each character. My favorite part is when Will takes Jett to the diner where he and his mom used to work at so she can meet some of her most loyal fans.

The film’s messages include follow your dreams, never give-up, and embrace the qualities that make us unique. There are also messages about the importance of family and friends and a reminder that there is so much more to every individual than what we see on the surface. I also like that this film demonstrates taking ownership and responsibility for your actions.

I give GOAT 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. GOAT releases in cinemas February 13, 2026.

Trailer: