As a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic fencing team, Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first Muslim American to compete in hijab. When her sabre team won the bronze medal, she also became the first Muslim American to medal at the Olympics. Her achievements made her an inspirational figure in the midst of a contentious election and a period of renewed attacks on American Muslims. “To me, the whole idea of sport itself is to bridge communities,” she says. “No matter where you’re from, what your background, how much your parents make, if you’re male or female, it doesn’t matter. We’re all able to unite under one umbrella of sport.”

Since 2016, Muhammad has taken that ideal of bridging communities and explored it in a range of other projects, promoting her modest clothing line, Louella, and publishing a memoir, Proud, about her journey. Now, she’s making her picture-book debut with The Proudest Blue (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Sept. 10), co-authored by S.K. Ali and illustrated by Hatem Aly. When Faizah’s older sister, Asiyah, picks out a beautiful blue scarf for her hijab, Faizah is excited for their first day of school. “It’s such an important time to have a story around hijab and family…when we have such a divisive time politically,” Muhammad says. Even when bullies tease Asiyah, Faizah feels only pride and admiration for her sister.

That positive, excited attitude toward wearing hijab was vital to Muhammad’s conception of the story. “It’s so authentic, because I know I never thought of hijab as being a bad thing,” she says. “I still don’t. I never have.” She’s confident that young women, whether they wear hijab or not, will see themselves in these girls—especially the strong bond between the sisters.

No matter your background, Muhammad says, “you look up to your older sibling, and when they do something you haven’t yet done, you see them as brave.” Faizah’s love and admiration for her sister are at the core of The Proudest Blue, and that’s something she feels all kids can relate to.

But Muhammad does hope the story can help educate non-Muslims and promote a more positive perception of hijab. Growing up, she dealt not only with bullies, but also those who reacted with confusion or dismay to her hijab. “I know how hurtful sheer ignorance can be,” she says. “I’m not sure [people] realize how piercing that kind of naivete can be, especially to a kid.” On the first day of school each year, she’d have to explain her faith all over again to new teachers and students.

As tiring as those experiences could be, Muhammad learned a lot from them about how to thrive in any circumstance, and it’s that strength and confidence she hopes to inspire in young readers. “Even if it is your first day of school, your first day of hijab, your first day on the field, whatever it is,” she says, “you have everything you need inside to be successful.”

Alex Heimbach is a writer and editor in California.