Tag Archives: Children’s Islamic Fiction

May14

Nabeel’s New Pants: An Eid Tale Retold by Fawzia Gilani-Williams

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Nabeel’s New Pants: An Eid Tale retold by Fawzia Gilani-Williams and illustrated by Proiti Roy is a silly story about a shoemaker getting ready for Eid.  He goes to buy gifts for his wife, mother and daughter and gets a new pair of pants for himself.  The pants, however, are four fingers too long, and no one has time to hem them for him: Not the shop keeper, not his wife, not his mother, not his daughter, so he does it himself.  Nabeel then goes out to visit the poor and hand out charity and all the women in his life feel guilty andsneak over to hem his pants for him.  Luckily Nabeel has a sense of humor and there is just enough time to fix some seriously too short pants.

The book is 32 pages and an AR level 2.9.  It reads well out loud, with simple, yet colorful pictures for even the littlest ones to look at and enjoy.  The story is simple, and probably has a lot more relevance to a Muslim audience than a non Muslim one.  Eid is not described in any great detail, other than gifts are given, charity distributed, new clothes are worn, and lots of food is prepared, so it might put off those not familiar with the holiday.  Islam isn’t mentioned by name, but is obviously assumed.  Culturally the characters are Indian sub-continent based on the food’s being prepared.  Some of the women fully cover, some a little and some not at all.  And I particularly like that Nabeel can sew his pants himself.  The kids enjoy seeing themselves and their families in a silly story.  Even the three-year-olds get the punchline and all around it is just a fun book.  Alhumdulillah!

Apr12

My Father’s Shop By Satomi Ichikawa

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What a surprisingly delightful book about a Moroccan boy named Mustafa in his father’s rug shop.  Helping his father, Mustafa finds a beautiful carpet with a hole in it and asks his father if he can have it.  His father agrees if in turn he promises to work on phrases in a variety of languages to help them sell carpets to tourists.  The boy agrees, but doesn’t put much effort in until in a moment of fun, he puts the carpet over his head, peeking through the hole, and runs out into the bazaar.  A rooster begins following him and as the tourists gather around, Mustafa, and the reader learn what a rooster says in five languages.  In Morocco:Kho Kho Hou Houuu!
In France: Co-co-ri-co! In Spain: Qui-qui-ri-qui! In England: Cock-a-doodle-doo! In Japan: Koke-ko-kooo!

The pictures really bring the story to life and connect the story to the reader.  I look forward to reading this book aloud during story time as I think the kids will see themselves in the Muslim characters in the bazaar, and see the different cultures all in one place just as they do in their classes.  At 32 pages the book is simple and memorable with large print and not too many words on the page.  It has an AR level of 2.2 and I think the kids will laugh and contribute to the sounds roosters make.  The story is completely clean, enjoyable, and memorable.

Feb19

Big Red Lollipop By Rukhsan Khan

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I love that Scholastic offers this book in the school market and that the story is universal to all ages, and all cultures.  The mom is Ami and the names are Indian/Pakistani the illustrations show the mom in traditional clothing including a scarf on her head, giving the story a tinge of culture and religion, but not distracting from the beauty and charm of the story.

The basic story is of a girl, Rubina, presumably new to America (or any western country) being invited to a birthday party and running home to ask her mom if she can go.  The mom asks what is a birthday party and why would one celebrate it, implying that it is not a traditional practice, but not something she opposes.  Rubina is allowed to go on the condition that she take her younger sister Sana, who is begging to go along.  Embarrassed about the idea, Rubina arranges to bring Sana, even though her friends find it odd.  At the party Sana spoils all the fun, and afterwards eats Rubina’s treasured red lollipop.  Rubina is no longer invited to parties, however when Sana is invited to a party, Rubina shows tremendous heart and takes a surprising and praiseworthy course of action.

Beautifully illustrated the story works wonderfully during story time, with each child identifying to different characters, yet understanding the same message.  The book is an AR level 2.2, and lends itself easily to discussion.  Even older students can explore points of view with this book, and imagine what they would do in any of the characters’ shoes.

Completely clean and enjoyable.

The author’s website: http://www.rukhsanakhan.com/books/bigredlollipop.html offers a reading of the story, teacher’s guides, and the truth behind the fictionalized account.

 

Feb10

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al Abdullah

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I stumbled upon this book at a used book shop and my own children loved it so much (ages 7,4,3) that I took it to school and read it to the Kindergarten Class.  The KG class loved it, the students eyes lit up when I read the words “hummus sandwich” and had to be settled down when they learned one of the characters is named Salma.  Even the youngest of our children, subhanAllah know what a treat it is to see a character they can relate to religiously and culturally in a beautifully illustrated book.

The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania (the girls were excited just knowing a REAL queen wrote the book), is a sweet story of two best friends who are put off by each others “weird” lunches, peanut butter and jelly and hummus and pita.  The situation escalates until the whole school is pointing out differences between students and the foods they eat and climaxes in a food fight.  Salma and Lily realize how silly it all is, sample each others lunches and then work to bring the entire school back together.  

A good book to talk about differences, and similarities, friends and food.  The book appeals to students of all ages with an Accelerated Reader level of 2.9, I think most preschool to Third grade students would laugh, and smile throughout the entire story.

Feb10

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns By Hena Khan

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Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns By Hena Khan

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As a librarian I do a few story time sessions a week, so I will include the Islamic themed books that the students and I particularly love. Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan, is currently at the top of the list.  The pictures are beautiful and engaging, the text is simple and poetic, and the fact that the students first saw the book at the Scholastic Book Fair, made it all the more appealing.  For such youngsters to see themselves, their religion, their culture, so simply and beautifully presented elicits smiles from even the youngest story time listener.  Recently the intermediate Language Arts teacher even borrowed it to review adjectives, and the students loved it.  From orange henna, to black ink writing Allah, the book presents, eid, hijab, prayer rugs, mosques, and love.  An absolute must on any book shelf, you won’t regret it.

To see some pages from the book online:

http://www.books4yourkids.com/2012/09/golden-domes-and-silver-lanterns-muslim.html