In four stories, Yasmin challenges herself to try new things and learn more.

This book is essentially four early readers stitched together. Each of the four stories have chapters within them. It's not one cohesive plotline, although they do all involve the titular character and her family as well as some friends. In the first one, a friend and her mother take Yasmin to the skating rink where she's afraid to tell them that she doesn't know how to ice skate. In the second one, Yasmin and her dad work on a jigsaw puzzle and the next day she has to puzzle out why Baba doesn't feel so good. The third story involves Yasmin and her parents visiting a farm where a baby chick goes missing. Finally, after a new bird feeder is installed in the family's backyard, Yasmin's grandmother starts losing baubles and it's up to Yasmin to figure out where they went.

For me personally, the overarching title of Yasmin Figures It Out! paired with the cover illustration of Yasmin looking like a detective made me really excited that this was going to be a chance for the character I already like to delve into the mystery genre. Instead, the stories are really more about problem solving and overcoming challenges. The last story touches a little on common mystery terminology like clues and suspects, but it's a thin mystery that even little kids will probably guess right away.

That being said, it's still a book of sweet stories that show wholesome family activities and highlight diversity While it's a little longer than the standard early reader, the inclusion of four stories that each have shorter chapters within them means that even relatively beginner readers can tackle this title and feel accomplished at the end for having concluded such a big book.

The illustrations are eye-catching and charming. The backmatter includes a glossary of some Urdu words and facts about Pakistan, from which I learned some interesting things! There's also question prompts for further thinking / reading comprehension and instructions for a craft activity. The latter has absolutely nothing to do with the book at all, but kids will still enjoy the ice painting. ( )