Muslim Child

By Rukhsana Khan

Illustrated by Patty Gallinger

Sidebars by Irfan Alli

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Muslim Child: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems

Published in Canada by Napoleon Publishing

72 pg, softcover, $10.95 Canadian

ISBN 0-929141-96-2

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Muslim Child: Understanding Islam through Stories and Poems

Published in U.S. by Albert Whitman & Co.

104 pg, Hardcover, $14.95 U.S.

ISBN 0-8075-5307-7

Muslim Child: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems

Muslim Child: Understanding Islam through Stories and Poems

A.R. Quiz # 64136

A.R. Reading Level 3.8

A.R. pts. 2.0

A.R. Quiz # 56697

A.R. Reading Level 4.4

A.R. Points 2.0

"Muslim Child is a collection of short stories and information designed to introduce children to I

slam. Every story begins with brief writings from the Quran, or sayings of the prophet Muhammad, and is designed to teach the basic tenets of the faith. In each tale, a child copes with a conflict or problem related to the faith . . . The book provides a useful and interesting introduction to Islam for non-Muslim children and may also prove to be helpful for Muslim children who are dealing with some of the same issues as the children in the stories. In addition to learning about the religion, the reader also comes face to face with the personal side of Islam in stories which are sometimes quite moving and provide a deeper insight into both culture and its spiritual base. While each tale stands on its own, together they illustrate a faith with a rich and beautiful belief system. The combination of story and information makes this a useful book for multicultural communities or for children wishing to learn more about Islam."

"Khan, a Canadian Muslim who has written about Afghanistan in The Roses in My Carpets (1998), now seeks to engage youngsters in learning about Islam and the everyday lives of Muslim children around the world for the purpose of teaching greater tolerance and understanding. In combining stories, poems, and activities with informational sidebars about religious practice and quotations from the sayings of Muhammad and the Quran, she has created a primer, a children's guide to Islam and its five pillars of faith. The eight short stories portray Muslim children in different countries, including the US, Canada, England, Pakistan, and Nigeria. 'Lost at Hajj' features a Black child from New York City who is making the pilgrimage to Mecca with his parents. 'Azeeza's First Fast' and 'Jumbo Jelly Shoes' are about children's difficulties in meeting their religious obligations, such as observing the fast during the month of Ramadan or eating the proper foods. Other stories are about holiday celebrations or the history of Islam. . .There is a chronology of Muhammad's life, a listing of the prophets, many who are also honoured in Judaism and Christianity, and a pronunciation guide with transliterations and Arabic calligraphy. . . teachers, librarians, group leaders, and parents will find this a very useful resource."

". . .as its subtitle indicates, Muslim Child presents aspects of the daily lives of Muslim youngsters in various locales, including Canada, the U.S., Nigeria, and Pakistan. The child's-eye view substantially increases the likelihood that non-Muslim readers will be able to internalize and understand what the protagonists and feeling and thinking, even if the religious basis of those thoughts and emotions are unfamiliar. In one story, a young American Muslim grumbles about having to wake before dawn for the morning prayer and then spends a good deal of his energy during the prayer trying to suppress a fart, which will render the prayer ritually unclean. In another tale, a Canadian boy is embarrassed to have his school friends see his mother in her full-body dress, with head and face coverings. The resolutions of these and the other stories are always positive and reinforce the beliefs that the children may have earlier questioned. For this reason, the text has a thematic similarity to fiction written for evangelical Christian audiences, an overlap that parents and religious teachers may choose to emphasize. Sidebars explain Arabic terms and aspects of Muslim belief and practice referred to in the stories. Devotional poems, selections from the Quran, and activities appear throughout. Soft, full-page pencil illustrations accompany the tales, and smaller illustrations are worked into the sidebars and stories. Though Khan's purpose is to explain Islam to non-Muslim children, the most avid audience for this book may be American Muslim children excited to finally find stories with characters to whom they can relate."

"A new book by Toronto author Rukhsana Khan could fill an underserved niche in the children's market: Muslim Child, released in August by Napoleon Press, explores eight characters' devotion to, and struggle with, their faith."