Enlighten and Entertain Kids & Teens in Ramadan (Reading List)

Even during Ramadan we look for ways and means to keep our children and teenagers entertained. What better way than to do this than by providing them with a wonderful selection of informative and attractive books to read. Better yet, create a family circle time where all members of the family read Qur’an (and/or ahadeeth) listen to a story and then discuss their thoughts and feelings .     

The following is a list of books (fiction and non-fiction) that you may consider reading and sharing with your children and teens during this Ramadan [I know it seems late to be posting this list, after all half of Ramadan is over, but it's better late than never. I am sure someone will benefit from it, inshaAllah (God Willing)]:     

Note: I have read all the titles listed here and personally recommend them. You will find a brief summary of each title and clicking on a title will take you to the publisher or online bookstore.     

 

Ramadan Reading for young children (4-7 years):

Pizza in his pocket. Learning to be thankful to Allah by Jawah Abdul Rahman (Goodword Books)     

A simple picture book with a big message. Young readers  meet a little boy who learns that while Allah has given him a variety of food (think of baklava, samosas and pizza, of course), he should not overeat. When he meets a hungry girl, he decides to do something good with all the food he has. For ages 4-7.      

A Time to Give by Mennah I. Bakkar (Arab Scientific Publishers)     

A lovely picture book that introduces the concept of charity to young children and the importance of giving to those in need. For ages 5-8.     

A to Z of Akhlaaq. Moral values for children by Sr. Nafees Khan (Goodword Books)     

Each page introduces a moral o ra good habit every Muslim child should learn and practice, from truthfulness to generosity to patience. Vibrant illustrations depict children in various situations which help to make abstract concepts easy to understand. This book would be great not only for parents to read-aloud to their children, but for teachers (Islamic or weekend school) to use in their Islamic studies lessons. For ages 4-9.     

The Kind Man and the Thirsty Dog (Upright Series 1) by Umar and Salimah Salim (Al-Hidaayah)     

Beautiful illustrations and simple narration describes a hadith narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the man who Allah forgave because of his kindness to a thirsty dog. For ages 4-6.        

Allah Gave Me Two Ears to Hear by Amrana Arif (The Islamic Foundation)     

Beautiful watercolour illustrations draw young readers into the world of a little girl as she describes the wonders she hears in the world around her using her ears. Children will love to chime in the refrain on every page, “Allah gave me two ears to hear…” This book is part of “Allah the Maker Series” which cover the five senses and includes these titles as well: Allah Gave me Two Hands and Feet, Allah Gave me a Nose to Smell, Allah Gave me Two Eyes to See and  Allah Gave me a Tongue to Taste. For ages 4-6.     

      

Ramadan Reading for older children and preteens (8-11 years):

A Great Friend of Children by M. S. Kayani (The Islamic Foundation)     

A revised edition of what I consider a classic, A Great Friend of Children is a collection of six short stories about noble and beautiful actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as he interacted with the children around him. For ages 7 to 11. [Note: I’m unsure whether this book is still available; but I do know that it is available on audio CD see here.]     

image source ukiabooks.com

 

The Fire that Saved. The Story of the Prophet Ibrahim adapted from writings by Maulana Abdul Hasan Ali Nadwi (UK Islamic Academy)     

A captivating narration of the life of the Prophet Ibrahim, this chapter book will hold the interest of older children as they read in detail about the life of this great man. For ages 8 to 11.     

image source taha.co.uk

 

Imran Learns about Qur’an by Sajda Nazlee (Ta-Ha)     

A beautiful, simple short story about a boy named Imran who has learnt his Arabic alphabet and is about to get his own copy of a Qur’an. His natural curiosity causes him to ask many questions. His mother and father tell him all about the Quran, how it was revealed, its significance. For ages 7 to 10.    

image source iqra.org

 

My Moroccan Village (Islamic Village Stories) by Luqman Nagy (Goodword Books).     

If you ever wanted to introduce your children/students to the life and history of Muslims in rural areas of another culture then this story (and the others in the series) is ideal. A boy named Abd al Hay takes us on a journey though his village located in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. He shows how houses and the masjid are constructed, the craft-work of the villagers and the food. Also in the Islamic Village Stories series are these titles: My Turkish Village, My Yemeni Village, My Chinese Village, My Palestinian Village, and My Hausa Village. For ages 8-11.     

 

    

image source al-hidaayah.co.uk

 

    

The Story of the Leper, the Bald and the Blind (Upright Series 1) by Umar and Salimah Salim (Al-Hidaayah).     

A story (from a hadeeth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which demonstrates why we should be grateful for what Allah has blessed us with. For ages 8-11. Other titles in this series for this age group include The King, the Boy and the Sorcerer, Al Khadir and the Begger and The Man and the Gold.      

      

Ramadan Reading for teenagers (12-16 years):

image source islamicbookstore.com

 

    

Companions of the Prophet by Abdul Wahid Hamid (MELS)     

The lives of thirty companions, men and women, of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are told in a compelling, easy-to-read format in this first volume (of a two-volume set). The troubles, trials and achievements of these companions bring the richness of early Islamic history to life. For ages 12 and up.     

      

image source ifna.net/bookstore.htm

 

    

Isabella. A Girl of Muslim Spain by Yahiya Emerick (IBTS)     

A beautiful story of a young girl’s courage and determination to find the truth despite the odds that face her. Set in Spain during the time of Islam’s presence and power in that country, Isabella learns and teaches Islam to those around her. For ages 11 to 16.     

       

 In the Prophet’s Garden. A Selection of Ahadith for the Young Compiled by Fatima M. D’Oyen and Abdelkader Chachi (The Islamic Foundation)     

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. For ages 12 and up.     

      

Tell Me About Prophet Muhammad by Saniyasnain Khan (Goodword Books)     

This book is a fascinating look at the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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 Musa, Tell Me About the Hajj and Tell Me about the Creation. For ages 10 to 16.     

      

Child Companions around the Prophet translated by Sameh Strauch (Darussalam)     

Here we meet ten companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during their childhood and youth. Rather than narrated as a story, each chapter is subdivided into sub-sections that give a factual account of the lives of companions such as Abdullah ibn Zubair, Anas ibn Malik, Usamah bin Zaid and Hasan bin Ali to name a few. The narration shows how these young companions interacted with and benefitted from the Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the information provides good role models for our current generation of young adults. For ages 12 and up.  

Muslim teenagers need to see themselves in stories they read

When I was growing up I read books a wide range of books; from fairy tales to adventure and mystery to even a bit of romance. In none of these works of fiction did I ever encounter Muslim children and teens like myself who were living Islam in society. Those who were facing challenges and struggling to resolve issues of living in a non-Muslim majority society. As a teen I would’ve loved to see others like myself in the books I read.   

photo source: Heavenly Photography (Flickr - Creative Commons)

 

In a recent interview, author, Na’ima A. Robert, clearly outlines why Muslim youth of today need Islamic fiction books that mirrors the situation in which they find themselves.  In talking about why she wrote her two Young Adult (YA) novels she states:   

“I wanted to address some of the issues faced by our youth and suggest an alternative way of dealing with them, a way that is nourished by imaan. The truth is, almost every YA title out there addresses issues that teens face to varying degrees. However, Muslim teens face the usual ‘growing pains’ issues as well as other issues that arise from their religious and cultural identities. It is these issues that I tried to address.”   

If you are a parent, teacher, leader or anyone who works with those who are the future of the Muslim ummah you will want to read this interview. Go on over and read the interview here.   

Just a reminder! Na’ima B. Robert will be here on JULY 23 rd as guest blogger. I am sure that, as in the interview above, she will share some insightful information with us.

Need for Quality Illustrations in Muslim children’s Books

Illustrations are literature in their own right and, whether used by themselves or integrated with written texts, they sharpen the perception of children, stimulate their imagination and increase their sense of observation.¹ 

The saying “a picture is worth more than a thousand words” is no more apt than when we talk about children’s books. Illustrations in children’s books refer to the pictorial representation of ideas, thoughts, characters and settings in a story. Children’s stories vary from the wordless for the very young (where the pictures/illustrations do all the storytelling) to a scant few in chapter books and sometimes in novels. Wherever and whenever they are used, illustrations form an integral part of a child’s reading experience.  

Benefits of good quality illustrations in children’s books are:  

• Present an opportunity for discussion and learning (for e.g. the parent or teacher may ask the child to predict what might happen next)
• Provide a concrete representation of objects, characters and places described in the story, especially for younger children where description in words is not feasible.
• Teaches children perspective, size, colours and texture through positioning of elements in the illustrations, blending of colours and use of various materials (paper, tissue, clay, paints, pencil etc).
• Promotes a sense of identity when readers view illustrations of children like themselves.

Unfortunately, the illustrations of Muslim children’s books for the most part can described as poor quality and unimaginative. But this has been slowly changing as artists use a greater variety of mediums and techniques to present their work. Still Muslim children’s books deserve better illustrations. We owe it to all children.  

Good illustrations can contribute to the overall development of the child by stimulating his imagination, arousing his perception, developing his potential.² 

 

Some illustrators I have found doing notable work include:  

Shirley Anjum, who is the illustrator of the book covers and pictures in the Islamic Rose Books series (e.g. The  Visitors) and its activity book (Grandma and Hijab EZ Family Activity Book).  

Another illustrator who I admire is Asiya Clarke, who has illustrated several books for the Islamic Foundation (including the Allah the Maker series).  

An illustrator who has taken the position not to provide facial details on her characters but who has succeeded in producing very interesting illustrations is Umm Hanifah. She is the illustrator of Hudayfah Learns about Allah and Ahmad has to go Potty.

Meet the Author: Q & A with Linda (Widad) Delgado – PART 2

Today we continue our question and answer session with Linda D. Delgado (also known as Widad) in the “Meet the Author” feature. Linda D. Delgado is a former police sergeant, writer (of the award winning Islamic Rose Books series), publisher (Muslims Writers Publishing company), and founder of Islamic Writers Alliance (a network of Muslim professionals working in the literary field of books and the written word. This is the second and final part of a two-part interview (read Part 1).

Q. What are some of your thoughts on why we need to read and how does Islamic fiction fulfill that need?

A. The importance of being able to read well with comprehension (understanding) is critical to children, students at any grade level, and to adults. Literacy is critical to success all through one’s life in education, employment and something as simple as reading street directions. Reading helps to expand the vocabulary of a person/child which leads to a better understanding of the world they live in.

If a child cannot read well, then parents and teachers can expect the child to have difficulty in all most all other studies. When a child, student, adult reads a good fiction story…one that is well-written, creative, interesting, fun, and non-preachy… enjoyment is the benefit. Fiction encourages the individual to enjoy reading which in turn builds on the vocabulary and comprehension skills necessary to be successful in non-fiction reading required for other course work and for employment and everyday living. Reading fiction encourages the reader to expand their imaginations and think of possibilities for many things in life.

photo source IslamicFictionBooks.com

Islamic fiction has the added benefit of showing the readers about Islam without the reader feeling they are reading a lesson or being preached to. With so many different genre of IF. One example is historical Islamic fiction. A reader can learn many historical facts about events and people without feeling as though they are reading a text book.

 Q. What can parents, educators and leaders in Muslim communities do to support authors and publishers of Islamic fiction? 

A. I think for parents the most important thing they can do with younger children is to read with their children. For older children I think they should be purchasing quality Islamic fiction books for their youth and teens to read. I think Islamic schools should be ensuing their libraries have plenty of Muslim authored and published books available for students. I also think that principals and teachers should incorporate Islamic fiction books in their language arts programs and also creative writing. A beginning could be the schools promoting Islamic fiction books through the annual and/or semi-annual book fairs Islamic schools hold each year. Instead of promoting secular fiction books, the emphasis should be on Muslim authored books. I also think that teachers and school administrators should provide recommended reading lists of halal Muslim authored/Islamic fiction books for listing on school web sites and schools should use IF books in summer reading programs. Holding creative fiction writing contests also encourages an appreciation for this category of literature with students.

Q. When and why did you start Muslim Writers Publishing Company?

photo source Muslim Writers Publishing

 
A. I began researching the secular and Muslim book publishing industries in early 2005 after my dearest friend and author died after a bone marrow transplant for the leukemia she suffered from. We were working together on a book manuscript and she asked me to promise to finish the book and get it published if she did not survive. She died three weeks after the transplant. I then tried to keep my promise by seeking publishing from other Muslim publishers once I finished the manuscript. I was not successful, so I felt that I should create my own publishing business to keep this promise and also to publish my own writing. I also decided to focus my publishing efforts on getting more Islamic fiction books published for older youth and teens and this led me to begin publishing other Muslim IF authors. The book that was my inspiration to become a publisher is, Star Writers. This is a very unique book that teaches Muslims how to write creative, fun, and halal Islamic stories. 

Q. What are some of the challenges authors of Islamic fiction face in getting published?

 

A. IF writers who write stories for very young children… the color illustrated books with limited text… have an easier time finding willing Muslim publishers. For IF authors who write stories for older youth (chapter-style books), teens, and young adults, it is still very difficult to convince most Muslim publishers to publish books at these reading levels. It is also difficult to convince Muslim retailers to make the IF books that do get published available at their bookstores. There are several factors which contribute to the obstacles of getting published and then convincing Muslim retailers to list/sell the IF books:

–Most Muslim publishers were educated in schools where fiction reading was not part of the curriculum and creative writing was not taught. (Countries with Muslim predominate populations) . 

–Unfortunately, a few Muslim scholars have taken the extreme POV that fiction writing is writing lies and fiction reading is a useless waste of time. There are individuals in the Muslim book industry that agree and there are Muslims who refuse to read fiction for this reason. 

–There are Muslims who do not understand that fiction reading is an educational requirement in schools in westernized countries. 

–Many parents of Muslim students in schools today did not read fiction as children/youth/teens so they do not understand its relevance to their children learning and succeeding in today’s school system. 

–Unfortunately Islamic fiction books have been mistakenly characterized as books that are dull, uninteresting, and preachy, are poorly edited with poor publishing book production values. This perception came about from fiction books published a decade or more ago and which were often translations of fiction books first written in other languages. 

– Muslim book retailers often follow Muslim publishers. Because most of the large Muslim publishers are not producing IF books for youth/teens then the books that do manage to get published are largely ignored by Muslim book retailers. 

The good news is that in the last two to three years I have seen a change in this with some of the larger Muslim publishers beginning to look for IF writers/stories for older youth and teens and it is becoming a little easier to convince Muslim book retailers to consider buying and making IF books available to Muslim book readers. Some book retailers and publishers are actually using the word ‘fiction’ on their web sites now. (:
  

Q. As a publisher what are some of the stories/themes you would like to see authors writing about?

 

A. I think that there is a critical need for IF writers to create stories that target Muslim male youth and teens. The stories should be ones boys would enjoy reading. Action and adventure stories, perhaps some book series with a young male character would be a good place to begin. I know that teachers seem to gravitate to historical fiction stories which could incorporate science fiction or fantasy.

 

Q. What advice can you give to young people who wish to become a writer?

 

A. There are several positive things our authors of tomorrow can do to gain skill as a writer and exercise their imaginations and creativity:

–Write every day even if it is for only 5 or 10 minutes. Writing in a journal is one writing exercise that can teach discipline.

–Write creative fiction short stories and ask friends, family and teachers to read them and give feedback and comments. Accept criticism/critique as a very necessary part of being a skilled writer.

–Enter your polished and edited short stories in fiction story contests. Even when you don’t when you benefit from the writing, rewriting the story and editing it so there are few if any grammar, punctuation, spelling , etc. errors.

–Research web sites which offer free writing tips a and offer writing techniques; that teach the technical parts of a book and the “language” of writing such as foreshadowing, prologue, POV, plot, etc.

–When older and if money is available, take a writing class to learn how to polish your writing and improve your techniques and skill.

 

 

JazakumuAllahu Khairan Linda, for taking time out from your busy schedule to answer these questions. Thank you for sharing with us valuable information about the Islamic fiction publishing industry. And for your great advice on writing, which I am sure will benefit many aspiring writers.

May Allah reward you for your dedication in bringing quality books to Muslim communities worldwide, for all the fabulous work you do and continue to do to through your books and to promote Islamic writers and their works.  

Learn more about what is Islamic Fiction (IF) at IslamicFictionBooks.com  

Find more of Linda Delgado’s books and titles published by her company at Muslim Writers Publishing.  

Read Part 1 of this interview here.