Tag Archives: multicultural

Sep4

From Here and There by Larissa Olinda illustrated by Herry Prihamdani

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From Here and There by Larissa Olinda illustrated by Herry Prihamdani

This sweet rhyming picture books discusses, focuses, and celebrates being a multicultural child.  Not the often seen child of an immigrant living in a society that is different than their parents, this story doesn’t even discuss where the child in the story resides, it just joyfully explores having a Brazilian mom and a Saudi father, while centering Allah swt in bringing them together.  The book highlights each culture, notes some differences, and acknowledges compromise, making this a reflective book for kids with parents from different cultures, but also a window of coming together that all readers can enjoy. Toddlers to early elementary will enjoy the 31 pages with bright engaging pictures and introduction to cultures and a topic not often seen in Islamic fiction, or any books for that matter.

The book is told from the child’s perspective as he breaks down his appearance and him being half his mom and half his dad.  He discuss the different sounds of Arabic and Portuguese, how meals are eaten, time is spent, people dress, and handwriting looks, without belittling or othering either culture.

The little boy circles back numerous times that this is all Allah’s decree, that brought his parents from different parts of the world together.  It shows challenges and compromise at time, and ultimately love and smiles.  The book concludes with helping readers like him to feel seen and articulates Prophet Muhammad (saw) saying that no person is better than another based on where they are from.

The book concludes with an ayat from the Quran and a hadith, and is based on the author’s life. I can really see this book being used in a class as an introduction to a lesson asking kids to write their own family traditions coming together. It also works well at bedtime, or anytime.

You can order the book here

Sep1

Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani

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Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani

Sometimes you remember reading a book and liking it, but not a lot more.  Why I never wrote up a review about this Muslim authored 153 page young adult fantasy novella (?) in 2013 when it was first published I have no idea, but now that it has a new cover and some minor tweaks I am happy to share it, support it, and urge you all to do the same. My only complaint is the book is too short.  It tells a complete story, but I did not want it to end.  The print version includes the prequel Shadow Thief in the backmatter, and I believe the series will total three books when complete, but I’m not a patient person and even the second time reading this had me sucked in from the very first page and unable to put the book down until I finished The paranormal world building, character development, intrigue, interest, adventure, and curiosity, is masterfully written and conveyed to take the reader on a journey where the next turn is completely unexpected, yet plausible, worrisome, yet hopeful, fast passed, but not rushed, and before you know it the last page has been read, and you are still emotionally attached to Hitomi, longing for Karolene, and anxious to see what will happen next.  There is no Islam in the book, many names come from Arabic though, and there is killing, death, vampires, soul suckers, magic, and lots of secrets yet to come to light.

SYNOPSIS:

Hitomi is still an outsider in Karolene unable to blend in even though she has been there for years.  Her skin and features give her away, but it is her secrets that she tries to hide more than her appearance.  She is part of the Shadow League, and when she gets a chance to help with a mission to save a political family that opposes the Arch Mage Blackflame, her life with the fish sellers is about to change. She encounters vampires, is taken through a portal to a landlocked northern land, is imprisoned with a Breather and starts to test the power of her own magic.

WHY I LIKE IT:

The twists and turns of the book are a wild ride.  You don’t know what is going to happen next, and while it takes a minute to share details of 15-year-old Hitomi’s world and Karolene at the beginning, the connection it creates to the main character is worth it as the story progresses.  In a short time you really feel you know how she sees the world, functions in it, and thus the emotional bond makes you invested in what is to come.  I love that Hitomi is mixed race, young, female, fallible, smart, strong, and empathetic and likeable.  She isn’t perfect, but you are definitely cheering her on.

FLAGS:

The book has magic, killing, death, plotting, secret, torture, politics, but for the genre and age is relatively clean. The prequel novella, Shadow Thief, does mention rape.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

The book is a bit too short for a full book club discussion, but I would absolutely recommend, shelve, and encourage middle school readers and up to grab a copy and take an hour or so off from their lives to read about Hitomi’s and make predications about what will happen next.

To show support to this incredible author, and this fun book, please preorder/order here.  You can also suggest your library shelve it, put it on hold, once it arrives, check it out, and enjoy it.

Jun1

What Am I? Book 2 ‘The What Race are we Series’ by Asiila Imani and Papatia Feauxzar illustrated by Juliana Paz

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What Am I? Book 2 ‘The What Race are we Series’ by Asiila Imani and Papatia Feauxzar illustrated by Juliana Paz

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This incredibly important 37 page picture book highlighting a little boys heritage will speak to children who see themselves in his quest to answer what he is, as well as (hopefully) inspire them to search out their own family ancestry and unique make up.

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The book is not a traditional story book, in fact there isn’t much of a storyline, but the concepts presented show how beautiful and amazing multi-cultural and multi-ethnic families can be.  A lot of cultural information is conveyed and celebrated about Samoan and Pacific Island traditions as well as Islamic ones.

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There is an aqiqa at the time of his birth as well as a Samoan party with a Hawaiian band.  Some members of his family cover, while other’s don’t.  He remarks how he has extra grandparents which equal extra blessings, and how he has a half brother because they have different dads.

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In addition to geography, there is also a STEM component as six-year-old Toa Idris learns he is a quarter this and half that through understanding fractions as visualized by slices of a pizza.  At one point Idris remarks that, “I can’t keep all those people and places straight,” and after reading the book half a dozen times, I honestly couldn’t either.  But, I think that is ok.  The point of the book is that being diverse is amazing, and having people love you is important, and culture and tradition and faith all make you richer.

IMG_4829 The text on each page is presented in a fun font, as are the pictures.  Really there is just one picture that makes Idris look angry and it is used in the story and the title page, which is unfortunate, I think it is supposed to have him look pensive, but it seems a bit off to me, where all the other pictures ooze with warmth and richness.

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I honestly don’t know what age group would benefit the most from the book.  Younger kids that may have been asked what their culture is will be empowered by having it reinforced that they are made just how Allah swt planned them to be, older readers will be able to create their own pizza slices, so to speak, and understand their own pieces, but I feel like both groups might need some coaching from an adult.  There are family trees at the beginning that almost become reference pages while reading the story and trying to keep everyone straight, that make the book almost interactive.  Muslim and non Muslim reader alike would learn about new cultures, and benefit from the “Extras” at the end.  Honestly, overall there is just a lot of information tossed around in the book, which isn’t a bad thing, it just might make it a bit more hit or miss if it will work for your child.

Sep11

Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

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Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

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I feel like I preordered this book years ago, I have been so anxious to see what all the hype was about. When it arrived I tore open the box and read it on the short walk from the mailbox to the house, read it again standing in the kitchen, left it for a few days, and reread it now to write the review. SubhanAllah, it didn’t disappoint.

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It reads, as intended, as a powerful letter to a child.  There aren’t long winded morals or overly fancy words. It is direct in its many ways of telling you, that you matter, where you come from matters, that your foundation matters. That you are strong, and beautiful, always, even when the world may not think so. That you are Muslim, that you are from Allah, that you speak in Arabic and Spanish and dreams.  The verses become poetry that dance on the page with the illustrations telling the story as powerfully as the words.  The words in turn float and lilt around images as old as time and as innocent as dancing in the wind.

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The 32 pages fly by that you can’t help but read it again, slowly, savoring all the harnessed power and hope of a multi culture world, a multi cultural faith, that is truly beautiful.  Recognizing the humanity that we all share, yet feeling pride in your own unique skin is a balancing act that doesn’t need to be apologized for, and should be celebrated.

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I love that this book exists.  That it is available on Amazon.  That it is bold and colorful and hardbound, and so well done.  There is diversity in Islam.  There is diversity of belief in Indigenous populations, that there is so much inspiration in the world around us and in our past.  Are all messages that come through even for the youngest readers.

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