Book Review of Millie & Mina
The Children’s Book Review
Millie & Mina
Written by Kimberly Dana
Illustrated by Farida Zaman
Ages: 0-5 | 34 Pages
Publisher: Picklefish Press (2025) | ISBN-13: 979-8218557713
What to Expect: Friendship, cultural diversity, empathy, food, music, and early childhood learning.
With its bright, joyful illustrations and rhythmic, parallel text, Millie & Mina is a heartwarming celebration of friendship across cultures—an essential early childhood read that introduces diversity in the most delightful, accessible way.
Millie plays piano; Mina plays oud. Millie wears pigtails; Mina wears a hijab. Through side-by-side comparisons of food, language, family, and play, this beautifully simple picture book offers young readers a window into two distinct traditions—American and Middle Eastern—while underscoring a universal truth: friendship flourishes in kindness and curiosity, not sameness.
Kimberly Dana’s spare, thoughtful text gives just the right amount of contrast to spark discussion, while Farida Zaman’s vibrant illustrations infuse every page with warmth and joy. Designed for young children and perfect for lap reading, this picture book is ideal for families, educators, and librarians hoping to introduce empathy, inclusion, and multicultural awareness in early learning environments. While the story is simple, its message is powerful—and timely.
Millie & Mina invites toddlers and preschoolers to see difference not as a divider but as something to celebrate. Cheerful, inviting, and brimming with heart, it’s a gentle but important first step in helping children build bridges across difference. It’s a must-have for every bookshelf that seeks to nurture kind and curious little humans.
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About the Author
Kimberly Dana is an award-winning author and literacy specialist. She is published by the National Council of Teachers of English, Edutopia, Publishers Weekly, Parenthood, Your Teen, and the recipient of several writing honors from Writers Digest, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Reader Views, Readers Favorite, and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. When she’s not writing, Kimberly enjoys traveling around the country giving author presentations to children and young adults. The owner of too many books and cowboy boots, Kimberly lives in Nashville with her husband and spoiled Maltese, Clementine.
