Tag Archives: friends

Mar7

What Does a Muslim Look Like? by Mohamed Abdel-Kader illustrated by Abdullah Badawy

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What Does a Muslim Look Like? by Mohamed Abdel-Kader illustrated by Abdullah Badawy

what does a muslim look like.jpeg This 22 page, simplistic book written in rhyming couplets, is such a timely and necessary book.  Much like Owl and Cat: What Islam Is… this book has value that extends far beyond its audience level (not AR but, I’d say three years and up), as the content breaks down stereotypes while being framed in a positive, non condescending way.

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A brother and sister pair, Jack and Jane, go about their day when at dinner Jack remarks that he learned that two of his classmates are Muslim and they look like them.  Thus arises the question, what do Muslims look like?  The book then goes on to break down stereotypes and broaden views in the same rhyming manner that keeps the book light and child friendly.  The conclusion is that like people of other faiths, everyone is different, and that no one should be judged on what is on the outside.

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The book appears to have been started on Kickstarter in 2012 and Alhumdulillah it got the needed funding to get published.  I got my copy through the public library system, and I am beyond thrilled that I found it where hopefully a lot of people can get their hands on it.  Reading the author’s campaign on where the concept came from, he would have had no idea how much more timely the book is now, then when it was first published.  I get asked quite regularly from old school friends, how they can introduce Islam or get the ball rolling  to talk to their kids about Muslims, and this book would be a great start.  Told from non Muslim kids perspectives, with very hip parents, the book does not discuss any tenants of faith or belief, it just identifies the many shapes and sizes and colors that Muslims come in.  It would work well to show that Muslims are everywhere not just in the news, without overwhelming even the youngest of readers.

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The pictures in the book are absolutely perfect in complimenting the story. They are not only silly, but also diverse as the book’s text would require.  Interestingly there are ladies with hijab and those without, and scarves are not mentioned in the text, and also noteworthy is there are no bearded men in the pictures.  Overall, a wonderful book that I would love to have on my shelf with extras to hand out.

Apr28

Jennah’s New Friends By: Suzy Ismail

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ImageThis book is presumably book one of the BFF SISTERS series, however, the author’s website doesn’t list any other books in the series and it was published in 2001, so it is unknown if more books are in the works.  At 64 pages, the intended audience is girls between ages 7 and 12, but I would note that there are no illustrations and while it is broken into chapters (on average about 10 pages long) the text and layout would be daunting to the average 2nd and possibly 3rd grade student. 

SYNOPSIS: 

Jennah lives in a neighborhood with lots of Muslims and lots of friends, but when a new girl moves in, Jennah is afraid that her best friend Yasmeen would rather be best friends with the new girl, Mariam.  Jennah not only is afraid of losing her friend, but there is a lot going on at home too, her mom is about to have a baby, her younger sister is always bothering her, and her dad is constantly away on business.  Alhumdulilah, Jennah is surrounded by supportive adults, forgiving and generous friends, and an Islamic foundation that allows her to sort out her feelings and create a Hadeeth club with All her new friends.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love that it is a clean book for the elementary age group, the girls do not have boyfriends and while hijab is mentioned in passing, the girls are a group of kids that are dealing with the constant struggle of all girls that age: friends.  Each girl in the BFF club is from a different background, Arab, Pakistani, African American, one’s parents are converts, and at the end a non-Muslim joins the group, truly someone for every reader to identify with.  I think most every girl reading this book can relate to the struggles amongst friends, being the new kid, having younger siblings, trying to fit in, and jealousy, all topics touched on, however the book is an awkward read.  I can’t decide if the book is a short story that got too long, or a novel that wasn’t fleshed out.  The beginning drags on as the foundation of who all the characters are is established, and at times Jennah seems very whiney and immature with problems that wrap-up with little explanation or insight.  Everything often seems too “perfect” and Jennah’s problems petty when all the surrounding characters are so over the top forgiving and generous.  The book left me wanting to know more about the backgrounds of the supporting characters, and more about how Jennah felt.  I think readers may get lost with all the characters, but if they can sort it out, I think they will see themselves and their friends in the pages dealing with the same issues they deal with every day.

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Clean

TEACHING THIS BOOK:

I probably wouldn’t teach this book for the intended audience, or share it as a book club, however, one-on-one the book would be a great starting point for a discussion with a girl having problems with friends.