Category Archives: How-To

Oct11

Auntie Aisha Answers: The Tween Muslim’s Ultimate Guide to Growing Up by Aisha Hussain Rasheed illustrated by Magdelena Zareba

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Auntie Aisha Answers: The Tween Muslim’s Ultimate Guide to Growing Up by Aisha Hussain Rasheed illustrated by Magdelena Zareba

Kids have questions, and in today’s world it is easier than ever to get answers, however parents need to parent and help provide CORRECT answers for their children. This 100 page book is a great resource to facilitate conversation, hand to tweens to read independently, or just have on the shelf for when a child is curious and knows the internet might not be the best resource.  For boys and girls, this book takes a conversational tone of answering questions that tweens are thinking about, and maybe some that they should be thinking about.  I love that it is not just a body or maturation or puberty book, it discusses boundaries, emotions, hygiene, wellness, it weaves Islam in for context and reassurance and direction, and also has workbook type activities to engage the reader.  The balance of facts and conversation keep it from not being dry, or overly heavy handed, which is also quite impressive.  The text, illustrations, size, and pacing make the information available in pieces or cover to cover.  We tend to have more female focused “growing up” books for our Muslim girls, and this one really is for both.  It provides insight into one’s own body and as well as understanding and compassion for the opposite gender.  If nothing else it normalizes that changes are nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed by and allows real conversation with proper terminology to be discussed in an age appropriate and Islamically rooted manner;  yeah, the Islamic references are sourced! If you have kids, go order this already, you will be glad you did, alhumdulillah.

The book starts with discussing the blessing of one’s body and moves into discussing abilities and disabilities before moving into male and female bodies.  The first section really focuses on the body: privacy, care, autonomy, healing.  The second section is called “Growing Pains” and discusses the changes the body undergoes.  Before opening the book, I for some reason, assumed it would be framed as questions and answers, and it is not, it is chapters, but the chapters have illustrations, activities, bolded words, and are visually engaging.

Ultimately I love that the book is easy.  The topic matter can seem intimidating when you are faced with discussing some of these topics with tweens, and this book really will put parents and children at ease in the way it approaches, discusses, and walks readers through concepts that Islam has provided resources and answers for in the Quran and Sunnah, in a contemporary tween friendly way. 

Apr4

Eliyas Explains + Bite-Size Journal: Why Does Allah Let Bad Things Happen? by Zanib Mian illustrated by Daniel Hills

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Eliyas Explains + Bite-Size Journal: Why Does Allah Let Bad Things Happen? by Zanib Mian illustrated by Daniel Hills

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The book stems from the genocide occurring in Gaza, but expands to cover the more general concepts of qadr (destiny), tests, and sabr.  The book assumes that what is happening in Palestine is known and does not discuss specific details, allowing the book to be both timely, yet universal.  As with all the books in the series, the conversational humorous approach appeals to children as foundational Islamic concepts are broken down and explained.  The book is 73 pages with the journal portion starting on page 33. In some of the other books, the journal feels more of a hands on to already shared information, or an accompanying workbook of sorts.  In this book however, I feel like the second half continues to explain the topic at hand, and convey key components in understanding why Allah swt, lets “hard” things happen, how we should view the tests, approach difficulties, and inshaAllah triumph. The book has been checked by a Shaykh, and I highly recommend this important book for elementary, middle grade, and even middle school children. The concept of qadr is difficult, I struggle to truly grasp what we can and cannot change, but this book helps readers focus on what we can change and how to view terrible things that happen to us and to others.

The book starts with Eliyas introducing himself and his family, and then wondering why “Israel is being able to do what they’re doing in Gaza.  Why isn’t Allah stopping it?” As with all Eliyas books, mom and dad are sought out, food is somehow worked in, and time and space are given to Eliyas and his siblings to be given an answer. His parents start by being glad that Eliyas’s heart is soft for the Palestinians and that he is bothered by what is happening to them, before explaining that a lot of understanding is trusting and truly believing that Allah swt knows best.

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The book uses hadith, ayats from the Quran, it even shouts out other Zanib Mian books, The Mindful Book of Wellbeing, for seeing the bigger picture and Eliyas Explains Why Should I Pray my Salat on how to make yourself strong to get through the struggles of this duniya.

The book talks about why Allah swt didn’t make everyone good, and it is clear in saying that being mad and sad are ok too, as long as we are not questioning Allah swt. There are prompts and questions (with answers) and the book is not heavy, despite the subject matter, the tone and approach stay on level and allow readers to connect, alhumdulillah.

You can get your copy here at Crescent Moon Store.

Mar18

The Muslim Girl’s Pocket Guide to Growing Up by Yasmin El-Husari illustrated by Noon Eltoum

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The Muslim Girl’s Pocket Guide to Growing Up by Yasmin El-Husari illustrated by Noon Eltoum

I still get asked fairly frequently about maturation books for Muslim kids. Boys are another story, but for girls, I’ve always had to settle on a non Muslim book that gives an introduction and some conversation starters, bur rely on the adult to provide the Islamic perspective.  Alhumdulillah, those days are over, I can now recommend this 47 page book as a great resource to hand to a young Muslim girl to read independently and/or together with a trusted adult.  The conversational text, the Islamic centering, the complimentary subtle illustrations, allow the book to be informative, but not intimidating.  For girls on the cusp of puberty it shows them what to expect and it normalizes what they are going to experience in terms of body changes and hygiene, all within an Islamic framework.  I do wish that it noted if scholars approved the text.  The author is a teacher and the illustrator an MD, but a statement at the beginning asserting the accuracy would give additional credibility to the contents.  In full disclosure, the author was my daughter’s teacher, but none of my kids are currently in her class, and I purchased the book on my own.  Truly the book is so desperately needed, the fact that it is well done is something I am happy to share, and inshaAllah, inshaAllah a book for boys will be forthcoming.

The book starts with an introduction from the author and then a table of contents.  Growing Up, Seeing Spots, A Hairy Situation, Body Safety, A Sweaty Dilemma, Tahaarah!, Periods: The Big Change, Periods in Islam, Discharge, Feminine Protection, Bra Measuring Guide, and Glossary.  There is not a lot of talk about moods, emotions, friendships (relationships), it really is streamlined to cover the body’s changes and practical tips through an Islamic lens.

The tone is very reassuring that what a girl is experiencing or about to experience is normal, something all women go through, nothing to be embarrassed about, and nothing to feel isolated by.  Even the glossary reinforces this this tone by explaining the medical terms and Islamic terminology used.  If a girl reads it alone, she will get that messaging, and hopefully feel empowered to embrace her changes and reach out if needed.  If one is reading it with an adult, the book lends itself easily to discussions that can be more specifically tailored to the young girl, or even a group of girls.

It talks about hijab and provides a chart about who can see you with and without, I’m a bit confused by young children being in both categories, I’m not sure if I am missing something or if it is a mistake.** I also feel like the chapter headings and the section subheadings are not clear as the font, color, and text size are often the same.  The book is small and short, it can be read in one sitting or thumbed through, so the chapters are not particularly necessary, but if it has a table of contents and headings, I feel they should be different in appearance for consistency and ease.

The book is currently available here on Amazon.

**UPDATE FROM AUTHOR:

*Correction Post
Assalamu Alaikum readers both past and present. Jazakum Allahu Khairan for your support and engagement with The Muslim Girl’s Pocket Guide. We had a reader reach out to us pointing out a typo in the text last week. Alhamdulillah that mistake is now corrected. Any book ordered after March 14th should be the correct version of the text. If you bought a copy with the printed mistake it can be returned to Amazon and repurchased inshallah. Again, I appreciate all of your support and Jazakum Allahu Khair 🦋
Mar7

The Ramadan Cookbook: 80 Delicious Recipes Perfect for Ramadan, Eid, and Celebrating throughout the Year by Anisa Karolia

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The Ramadan Cookbook: 80 Delicious Recipes Perfect for Ramadan, Eid, and Celebrating throughout the Year by Anisa Karolia

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Another surprising library find, this 2023 published cookbook shares meals for all the time, but organizes them with Ramadan in mind.  Unlike many online recipe pages, there is not a lot of backstory about the culture behind the recipes, or how the author has made them her own, it really is pretty direct and to the point.  The author is Desi, and the bulk of the recipes Indian, but it isn’t all of them.  I found myself flipping through the pages hoping to be inspired, but sadly most of the recipes were fairly basic.  That isn’t too say they are not good, I have not tried them, but being of Pakistani decent and that I have been cooking multiple meals a day for too many years to count, I didn’t feel compelled to check the kitchen for ingredients.  I think a big part of it is, I need pictures of the food to spark interest, and not every page had images of the food.  I think the book is fun to look through, maybe remind you of something you tried once and enjoyed, or give you ideas of something you and your family might like to try.  I would say it is for beginner cooks, but without step-by-step directions, you have to have some basic skills, perhaps it is more a family friendly cook book as she makes comments of what her children like, or dishes them come together quickly and easily.

Clearly I am not a foodie, or a cookbook reviewer, I was just excited to see a Ramadan cookbook available at the library and wanted to share.  The author shares her thoughts on Ramadan, and interjects some thoughts on the section pages. Apparently she is a famous blogger, so if you follow the author and there is something I should try, please let me know.

Mar7

A Little Golden Book: Ramadan: A Holy Month by Malik Amin illustrated by Debby Rahmalia

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A Little Golden Book: Ramadan: A Holy Month by Malik Amin illustrated by Debby Rahmalia

As a child I had a stack of Little Golden Books, my libraries always have a good part of a shelf with Little Golden Books, my own kids have a few dozen of them, but honestly I don’t know that I love any of them, aside from the Monster at the End of the Book.  They are a staple, they have spanned generations, but I always find them a bit abrupt, the text to small and dense, and the vocabulary a little too advanced. So, on the one hand I am thrilled that this timeless brand has a Ramadan title, but on the other hand, some of the food descriptions contain vocabulary a bit advanced for the recommended 2-5 year olds.  If you have been reading my 2024 Ramadan and Eid reviews, you will however be glad to know that this Ramadan book, does pack a lot of information into the pages, and when it asks why do Muslims fast? It says unequivocally “because it is written in the holy book called the Qur’an.” Suhoor is said to be before the sun even rises at one point, and then dawn at another, but then, however, it kind of equates dawn and sunrise, I’ll let it pass, cause it is a little vague with the equating, after saying when we eat clearly. My only real gripe are the food tangents, detailing not to eat fried and salty foods at suhoor, to they hyper specific “creamy curries, fresh soups, and rich stews. Fragrant rice dishes paired with grilled meat or kofta” at iftar.  Yeah it almost seems like the author wrote the book while fasting, with food heavily on his mind.   It does mention doing extra good deeds, more prayers, and it reads as an easy non fiction book.  It doesn’t try and interject the information into a fictionalized framing, it just tells about Ramadan.  It would be nice though, if it was sourced, but with the reasonable price point and accurate information, makes it a solid book to add to gifts and to share.

The story is told in the first person and opens with a family searching the sky for the moon. It then says in a single paragraph on a two page spread that “during Ramadan, Muslims eat and drink only when it is dark.”  It then asks why? Answering on the next spread with, “the Qur’an.”  It says that it is read in many different languages, which technically isn’t wrong, but I wish it would have said that it is written in Arabic. It continues to say that “the Qur’an tells us how to be Muslim.” To care for people, to pray. to fast, but that children and those that are sick aren’t required.

It then details foods to eat and foods to avoid for suhoor before returning to the more spiritual aspects and traditions of being kind and giving charity.  It explains Ramadan Mubarak and then finds its way back to foods, highlighting iftar drinks and foods.

Ramadan is a month, followed by Shawwal and then the celebration of Eid, making sure to note that on Eid we cook our favorite foods.

Overall, a lot of information clearly conveyed, with bright, fun, joyful illustrations.  The final page is a gloassary of words and phrases.  I purchased my copy here on Amazon.

Mar4

Craft it Up This Ramadan and Eid by Zayneb Abdullatif photography by Sidoie Djunaedi

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Craft it Up This Ramadan and Eid by Zayneb Abdullatif photography by Sidoie Djunaedi

This book is not new, but I saw it at my library and thoroughly enjoyed looking through it.  I’ve hosted, helped, and attended numerous Ramadan craft fairs and story and craft times over the years, and I know everything can be found online.  Yet somehow this 79 page, 2015 published book was kind of fun to look at with my toddler.  It wasn’t overwhelming or super complicated, it was just a nice roundup of simple crafts that you could easily do with items around your home, while dropping little informative bits about Islam, Muslims, Ramadan, and Eid.  I doubt young parents today would even think to look in a library book for Ramadan craft ideas, it is a bit of an antiquated concept in todays day and age.  I highlight it today to remind us that so many have worked very hard to advance Muslim representation in books in all its forms, alhumdulillah, so that we can continue to see ourselves, make strides, and raise the bar.

The book starts with tips for parents and guardians, followed by the basics, crafts for the joyous month, crafts for Eid, a special festival, and concludes with templates, good deeds activity list, and a glossary.

It erroneously says we fast from sunrise to sunset, but does get right that we increase our worship and that fasting was ordered for us by Allah swt.  On the Eid section it discusses the takbirat and gives Eid al Adha a paragraph explanation as well.

A fun library find, that kept us off a screen and able to plan some little activities to do this Ramadan.

Oct2

We Know What to Say: Phrases Commonly Used by Muslims by Sabria Chao

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We Know What to Say: Phrases Commonly Used by Muslims by Sabria Chao

The concept behind this 42 book is really nothing new, but the presentation is wonderful.  The large hardback size, the clear inviting illustrations, and the repetition allow the book to be a delight at story time and bedtime alike.  Each Islamic term is introduced by a diverse character with a common Muslim name being asked if they know what to say in a situation.  The child gives the word, the following two-page spread restates the term and when to use it. All the terms are shown at the end in a two page spread along with a glossary and a Note to Parents.

I love the relatable scenarios: zoom calls, rain, getting sick, etc..  I also like the rhythm of the book, it reminds me a little bit of Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  The bright colors, the simple engaging illustrations and the big size make me ecstatic to share this at story time.  So many of the books that focus on Islamic terms for toddler to preschool level are small board books.  They serve a purpose, but we have long needed a large clear book for groups of children to learn, practice, and review together.

This book was nominated for the 2023 Muslim Bookstagram Awards, but you can purchase a copy here

Aug28

The Big Yard Sale: David Learns How to Treat Customers by Tariq Touré illustrated by Anika Sabree

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The Big Yard Sale: David Learns How to Treat Customers by Tariq Touré illustrated by Anika Sabree

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David Kareem is back and learning how to treat customers at his neighborhood yard sale.  The 26 page rhyming poem, turned children’s book (note there is little punctuation) is brightly illustrated as it follows David on his selling journey.   With Mommy’s baking and guidance on how to treat customers, his Saturday morning offers lots of lessons, mistakes, learning, and entrepreneurship for David and the reader alike.  There is a hint about a smile being charity, an Imam stops by, and David puts on a kufi.  It has good lessons and the same community vibe as the first book David’s Dollar, with visible Muslims in the illustrations and with Muslim names in the text throughout. But there was a page with two typos which disappointed me, a changing number of cinnamon rolls, and when the copy arrived it was pretty damaged and bent (probably/possibly not the fault of the author, but it cost $25 through the preorder Launchgood, so disappointing none-the-less, alhumdulillah you can now purchase it here from Amazon for $12).

David wakes up and hears commotion outside, he thinks he left a toy on, but soon realizes the neighbors have their stuff on tables and are selling things.  David wants in on the action, but can’t figure out what to sell.  He seems to gather up some toys and household items in the early illustrations, but ultimately it is about him selling his mother’s cinnamon rolls.  She is a baker, and is testing them out, but he says he only needs five and is off to peddle his wares.

The first costumer comes, and leaves, he asks his mom what he did wrong, and she advises him to adjust his attitude by smiling.  They look at Brother Naeem as an example. The next costumer comes, but asks if he can warm up the now six cinnamon rolls in the illustrations.  David says no, and once again he turns to his mom to find out why.  She tells him that “the customer is always right” heads off to get a heat lamp, and uses Sister Khadijah selling beads for reference.  When Imam Musa comes, David completes the sale, but Mommy says he needs to learn gratitude.

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One page has “He’s” when it should be “He,” and “sleep” when it should be “asleep.”  I get the lack of punctuation is stylistic, but I don’t feel like these two on the same page are intentional, they just seem erroneous, and being that they are on the same page, makes it seem like the page was just missed perhaps in editing.

Overall I enjoyed the presentation, representation and content of this book and am glad I preordered it months ago. I wish it had a smidgen more Islam in it, but I think this book would be great in an early elementary story time with recently traditionally published books about business for a similar demographic, including the author’s earlier book, David’s Dollar. Teaching kids about entrepreneurship, ethics, gratitude and doing it with Muslim characters is incredible to see and important to share.

Jul3

Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism by Yassmin Abdel-Magied illustrated by Aleesha Nandhra 

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Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism by Yassmin Abdel-Magied illustrated by Aleesha Nandhra 

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The very first page of this practical Muslim authored, visible Muslim featured, how-to book draws you in with the author’s conversational tone and approach.  She presents life as being a mountain we all are born to climb and articulates that we are all given different tools to do so.  The book sets out to understand how race and racism affect the climb, how we can make it more fair, and uses questions from kids in the UK as the general organization of the 128 page book for middle grade readers and up.  As a Black Sudanese born, Australian raised, immigrant London woman who speaks Arabic, is Muslim, has authored five books, is an engineer and social justice advocate, she acknowledges privilege, and injects plenty of InshaAllahs, Alhumdulillahs, and global perspective to racism, its history, and what we can do to stand up and speak out about it.  I do wish the book was sourced, but the first person perspective, and her own intersectional identities, carry confidence and OWN voice power in making the world a better place for all.

SYNOPSIS:
The book starts with a section about how racism started, then moves into what racism looks like today and how it shows up and affects us all.  It then concludes with a focus on the action of standing up and speaking up.  The book spends time reassuring the reader that the contents might create strong emotions and to breathe acknowledge your feelings and find a safe way to express them. Chapter 6 discusses religions, even though the book is about race and says it does so because it is the same social construct of grouping a very diverse group together because of something “other” that they share.  It spends time on anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia.  The book doesn’t have to be read cover to cover, it can be read in sections, in any order, there is also a glossary and index at the back to find particular topics to look at.

WHY I LIKE IT:
As an American, I love that the book is global in focus and shows the effects of colonization and attitudes, and thus realities.  I also like that it takes time to discuss internalized racism, as well as interpersonal, institutionalized, and systemic.  Pointing out schools and how many of your teachers or principals look like you, really drives the points home.  I love that there is a whole page on hijab and truly that you see the author regularly bringing in Islam to the conversation which is great.  The action steps of what to do if you see racism, what to do if it is aimed at you, are well presented in metaphors that are easy for kids to see why the course of action suggested is doable, logical, and important.  It doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that pushing back on racism escalates the situation, and encourages individuals to be safe and do what they can. There are pull-out boxes, comic strip scenarios, bolded and bulleted text, and colorful engaging illustrations and infographics that connect with 9 year old and up readers independently or in small groups.

FLAGS:

The book discusses an emotional topic, but I don’t think there are any particular flags to be noted for 4th grade and up  There are important conversations to be had based on what is shared, but nothing is overly graphic or sensationalized.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I think this book would be great to share with students regularly and often.  It should be on library and classroom shelves and should be used in small groups, large groups, and one-on-one.  The variety of methods that the information are conveyed make a useful tool when concerns arise, and a great reflective piece to encourage children to think deep, better themselves, and be aware at all times about the privilege and effects of their thoughts and actions.

Available for preorder on Kindle here https://amzn.to/3PH98u2

Jun19

A Cat Like Me! A Fun Hajj Tale by Emma Halim illustrated by Aissa Mutiara

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A Cat Like Me! A Fun Hajj Tale by Emma Halim illustrated by Aissa Mutiara

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A rhyming cat centered book about hajj that has been checked by a Shaykh!  Over 46 pages, preschool aged children and up will be able to see the steps of hajj in a fun, engaging and accurate way.  This book is great for bedtime and small group story time and the reasonable price makes it perfect for sharing too.  The illustrations do not have faces with eyes, but the joy comes through and Bissa the cat makes sure you know how special hajj is.

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I love that the book identifies what type of hajj is going to be shown and thus signals that there are different ways.  I also love that the book is sourced and the Shaykh is named and qualifications listed.  For so long erroneous information in children’s books has gone unchecked and it really is such an important   verification for something critical in our faith to be sourced and checked. Plus it is reassuring for the reader to feel confident in sharing the information with others.

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The book radiates with excitement and information and the rhymes and illustrations keep kids engaged.  The book is 8.5 x 8.5 so it might not work in big groups.  I purchased mine from if you use code https://crescentmoonstore.com if you use my initials ISL (Islamic School Librarian) at checkout you will save 10% it is also available here on Amazon.

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