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: