Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the basketball sensation who converted to Islam and assumed an Arabic name, does not want to blow you up.

Neither do Iranian-American space tourist Anousheh Ansari or Swiss Muslim theologian Tariq Ramadan.

Such is the message of a new children’s colouring book, provocatively titled I Don’t Want to Blow You Up, that aims to teach tolerance through drawings and descriptions of people whose names or appearance — think head scarves and turbans — might evoke fears of terrorism in youngsters.

Hmmm… not sure how I feel about this. Would I give this to my kids, along with a lesson in “diversity” and racial profiling? How would I feel if a teacher handed it out in class? As an adult, I can’t help but smile at the idea, which is witty and fun. But would it make sense to a kid? Or would that kid automatically equate these people with bombers just because of the name?

Child psychologist Leora Kuttner suggests the biggest misstep may be the book’s phrasing — from the continued use of “don’t,” a word children often misinterpret or ignore altogether, to the “dicey and controversial” name on the cover.

“Wanting to grab the headlines with a catchy title, the authors messed up their message,” says Ms. Kuttner, a professor at the University of B.C. “There will be many children who will not be comforted by this book.”

Representatives of Mr. Abdul-Jabbar have contacted the publisher to protest over the unauthorized use of the basketball legend’s image in a book his manager says he “does not endorse.”

So does that mean Kareem Abdul-Jabbar actually does want to blow us up?

H/t Kathy via email.

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