Books recommended for Reading Aloud (ages 9 – 13)
Compiled by Saara, Editor – Guide to Muslim Children’s Books and Media
http://muslimkidsbooks.wordpress.com
April 2010
The Meat Eating Vegetarian by Caroline Maryam Ward.
The Islamic Foundation, 2001. 44 pages. ISBN 0860373061.
Tasneem is a Muslim girl who has just moved to a new school. She quickly becomes firm friends with two girls in her class. They are puzzled by the fact that she doesn’t ever take any meat in her school lunches. They believe Tasneem is vegetarian until they are invited for dinner at her house and they all eat lamb burgers. And why wasn’t she wearing her hijab at home? In this book the issues of Halal meat and Islamic dress requirements are explored in the relationship between Tasneem and her two non-Muslim friends.
Type: Fiction
Age: 8 – 11 years
Rashid and the Missing Body by Hassan Radwan.
The Islamic Foundation, 2001. 80 pages. ISBN 0860373959.
Rashid and his friends find themselves unexpectedly caught in the middle of a scam. When they stumble upon a body at the park they embark on a detective hunt to find who the person is. In the process we learn of how Rashid and his family live an Islamic life, the value of truth and good morals.
Type: Fiction - Mystery
Age: 10 – 15 years
The BFF Sisters. Jennah’s New Friends by Suzy Ismail
Amana Publications, 2001. 64 pages.
Jennah makes friends with girls her age but whose families come from different parts of the world. Can they get along together? Deciding to stop assuming things and being jealous, Jennah forms a girls club called the BFF Sisters. Through this club the girls share and develop their personal experiences while exchanging their knowledge of Islam. A short novel that would appeal to all girls who know what forming new friends is all about.
Type: Fiction
Age: 9 – 11 years
Umar and the Bully by Shabana Mir.
The Islamic Foundation, 1998. 44 pages. ISBN 0860372960.
This is a short novel that tackles the problem of bullying among children in schools. The book presents a perfect opportunity for parents and teachers to read and discuss what bullying is, why it is wrong and how to go about dealing with it. Another theme worth discussing is the way in which Umar turns to Allah for help each step of the way. This coupled with his common sense results in a resolution to the bullying problem.
Type: Fiction
Age: 8 – 12 years
The Visitors (Book one of the Islamic Rose series) by Linda Delgado.
Muslim Writers Publishing, 2005. 172 pages. ISBN 9780976786115
The Visitors by Linda D. Delgado is the first book in the Islamic Rose Book series. This is a unique novel for it looks at Islam and Muslims from the non Muslims point of view. In this novel we meet the delightful Rose, an eager, quick thinking, nine-year-old girl. She is being brought up by her father with the benefit of the support and company of her grandparents who live next door.
Set in
Throughout the book, Rose’s entries in her journal are shared with readers. She writes about what she learning about Islam as well as about her relationship with her father. We sense Rose’s confusion as she plots and makes many plans to get her father to know the police officers but to no avail. That is until she comes up with a unique plan that works, bringing the book to a very touching end.
Type: Fiction
Age: 10-13 years
Muslim Poems for Children by Mymona Hendricks
The Islamic Foundation, 1996. 48 pages. ISBN 0860372189
Muslim Poems for Children by Mymona Hendricks is a collection of twenty poems for children between the ages seven and thirteen. The poems are about a variety of Islamic topics including the pillars of Islam (e.g. salah (prayer), hajj and fasting); Islamic identity, the Quran, brotherhood and parents.
The poems are written in a very simple form and rhyme. They are especially good for reading aloud. Children will find the rhymes easy to memorise. In the classroom or home, the poems could form part of an Islamic studies lesson plan.
The collection features short excerpts from Quran or hadeeth at the end of several poems. Photographs of children engaged in various daily routines and Islamic duties are interspersed throughout the collection. A glossary of Islamic terminology is included at the end.
Type: Poetry
Age: 7 – 12 years
The Poor woman and the Bread (Upright Series 1) by Umar Salim.
Al-Hidaayah Publishing & Distribution, 2001. 13 pages. ISBN 1898649448.
This book is one of eight in the Upright Series 1 collection of stories by Al-Hidaayah Publishing & Distribution. Each book in the series is an illustrated translation of an authentic hadeeth (saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Other titles in the series include: Al-Khadir and the Begger; The Kind Man and the Thirsty Dog; Safeena; The Story of the Leper, the Bald and the Blind; The King, the Boy and the Sorcerer; The Monkey and the Wine Merchant; and The Story of 1000 Dinars & The Man and the Gold.
Type: Non Fiction
Age: 7 – 12 years
The Mothers of three Prophets by Jameelah Jones.
Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd., 1994 (reprint 2001). ISBN 189794022X
The Mothers of three Prophets contain stories that narrate the lives of three phenomenal women. They are: Hajar, the mother of Ibrahim (alyahis salam); the mother of Musa (alyahis salam) and Maryam, the mother of Isa (alyahis salam).
These women are showcased not only because they were the mothers of three of Allah’s prophets but also because they were outstanding individuals. They possessed personalities, attitudes and approaches to life that we could all learn from.
The stories are told in a way that a child of eight should be able to read on his/her own. But I think the significance of the stories may be better understood by children who are a bit older (possibly 10 and up). The concepts of sacrifice, obeying and submitting ones will to Allah are conveyed throughout the book. Ayat (verses) of the Quran are woven seamlessly into the narration while emphasizing the importance of the situations described.
Apart from telling us the history of the prophets, this book is a tribute to all mothers and it teaches us how obedient we must be to Allah, despite hardship, fear of loss or being ashamed of ridicule.
Type: Non Fiction
Age: 7 – 13 years
In the Prophet’s Garden: A Selection of Ahadith for the Young complied by Fatima M D’Oyen and AbdelKader Chachi.
The Islamic Foundation, 2002. 118 pages. ISBN 086037372X.
This is a beautiful collection of ahadeeth on various Islamic topics including eman (faith), repentance, respect for elders, friendship, knowledge and good manners. The book includes stunning photos of nature and decorative borders that compliment the text.
Type: Non Fiction
Age: 9 – 16+ years
Tell Me About Prophet Musa by Saniyasnain Khan.
Goodword Books, 2003. 56 pages ISBN: 8187570482
This book is a fascinating look at the life of Prophet Musa using photos, maps, pictures of relics and captivating narration. It is great for Islamic studies lesson or just for general reading and discussion. A list of ayat of Quranic references is included at the end.
Other titles in the series are Tell Me about Prophet Yusuf, Tell me About Prophet Muhammad, Tell Me About the Hajj, and Tell Me about the Creation.
Type: Non Fiction
Age: 8+ years
Other books that might be good for reading aloud but which I have not personally read or reviewed include:
Ibrahim Khan and the Mystery of the Roaring Lion by Farheen Khan.
The Islamic Foundation, 2009. 51 pages. ISBN 9780860374671.
Type: Fiction - Mystery
Age: 7 – 10 years
A School Girls Hero by Umm Amina
The Islamic Foundation, 2009. 51 pages. ISBN 9780860374213
Type: Fiction
Age: 7 – 10 years
Ahmad Deen and the Curse of the Aztec Warrior by Yahiya Emerick.
Type: Fiction - Mystery
Age: 9-12 years
Ahmad Deen and the Jinn at Shaolin by Yahiya Emerick.
Type: Fiction - Mystery
Age: 9-12 years
Layla Deen and the Case of the Ramadan Rogue by Yahiya Emerick.
Type: Fiction - Mystery
Age: 8 – 12 years
Layla Deen and the Popularity Contest by Yahiya Emerick.
Type: Fiction
Age: 8 – 12 years
Isabella: a Girl of Muslim
Type: Fiction
Age: 9– 13 years
The Four Daughters of Yusuf the Dairy Farmer by Juwairiah J. L. Simpson
American Trust Publications, 1984. 40 pages. ISBN 0892590564.
Type: Fiction
Age: 10 – 15 years
The Princess who wanted to be Poor by Juwairiah J. L. Simpson
American Trust Publications, 1986. 52 pages.
Type: Fiction
Age: 10 – 15 years
A Great Friend of Children by M. S. Kayani
The Islamic Foundation, 2008. 45 pages. ISBN 978086037329.
Type: Fiction (stories based on hadeeth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Age: 7 – 13 years
Posts
Thank you so much, what a great selection of books to choose from! My DD is still little, but I'm definitely making a note of those for when she's a bit older. Jazaaki Allahu khayr!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. You can visit her website to find good titles for your daughter.
ReplyDeletevery beneficial. I am so glad that there are these kinds of books to choose from, for young Muslim children. When I was younger, there was not that much English fiction geared towards Muslim children (or maybe I was just ignorant of it). My mom teachers third grade and these books will definitely be of good use for her. JazakAllah Khayr. =)
ReplyDeleteThat would be great if your mom could make use of this list. I think Islamic books have come a long way too since I became muslim but I have no idea how things were before that. I've been muslim for 18 yrs.
ReplyDeleteI bought Isabella for my daughter for Eid. I don't know how it is though because she still hasn't read it. Also bought A boy from Makkah for my son which he hasn't read yet. I'm just reviewing this list to see what I should buy next. Has anyone read any of these? What did you think?
ReplyDelete