Best Books for Children
Assalamu’alaykum!
This week, we’ve compiled a list of books to keep your little ones entertained (and educated!). Enter the world of the Muslim Sleeping Beauty, learn about Ramadan with Hassan and Aneesa, and discover Hajj with Yan… there’s plenty to enjoy for young and old alike!
Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan by Yasmeen Rahim
It is the night before Ramadan and Hassan and Aneesa are excited for it to begin. In Ramadan they will read the Qur’an, give charity, share food with neighbours and try to fast.
Follow them on the first day of Ramadan and find out why Hassan and Aneesa love it when the holy month arrives.
The Hassan and Aneesa series is designed to introduce young children to a range of Muslim places. The books are colourfully designed and simply written and will guide children through a range of new experiences.
Sleeping Beauty: An Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani
After the wicked Count Lahab promises to crush the young princess Mariam at her aqiqah, she is hidden within the king’s castle. Under the watchful eyes of Lady Masarah, Mariam is safe from wicked whispers, and becomes a pious young woman with strong faith and helpful manners.
But, beyond the castle walls a serpent waits patiently and upon the news of Mariam’s wedding, Count Lahab finds a way to deceive the castle and present her with a beautiful hijab pin, covered in poison, that leaves her in a deep, unbreakable sleep.
After potions and prayers have no affect her husband, Haris, is told to go on a perilous journey to Makkah to pray for her recovery and bring back Zamzam water for her to drink. But, faced by Count Lahab and his outlaws, what does his destiny hold.
A faithful retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, this story will awaken a love for this classic tale in a whole new community’s heart.
My Special Angels: The Two Noble Scribes by Razana Noor
Beside every person’s shoulder, there are two angels. Muslims know them as the Kiraman Katibin (the noble scribes). They write down every deed, good and bad, from a person’s first day to their last.
Inside this book you will find out all about them, and how to turn those bad deeds into good ones, with a lovable and cheeky young boy.
Zak and his Good Intentions by J. Samia Mair
Zak and his sister Hana decide to see how many good deeds they can do in one day. However, everything is going wrong for Zak, and his plans only end in disappointment … and lots and lots of mess.
Zak soon realises, though, that it isn’t important what happens; it is his good intentions that count.
Yan’s Hajj: The Journey of a Lifetime by Fawzia Gilani
Yan’s trip to perform Hajj turns into a journey that lasts a lifetime. A heart-warming tale about helping others.
Yan is a big-hearted young man determined to perform Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. But first, he must work hard on his farm and fill up his money bag for the journey. Despite the trials he faces on each unsuccessful trip to the Kaaba, Yan’s helpful nature, compassion, and generosity enable him to succeed in the end.
Fawzia Gilani-Williams was born in England where she graduated as a teacher. She serves as an international educational consultant with a PhD in children’s literature and character development. She is a Global Representative for the International Positive Education Network and works for the Abu Dhabi Education Council in the UAE. Sophie Burrows is a children’s illustrator based in England.
