Reading with Maryam – Discovering Muslim Children’s Books that Delight and Inspire

These are some of my and Maryam’s favorites, but the list is far from complete. There is a whole genre of books with characters who are South Asian, Middle Eastern, or African, introducing children to the cultures of the Muslim world, even if they do not mention Islam or Muslims specifically.  One that stands out here is Queen Rania of Jordan’s The Sandwich Swap, a sweet story about friendship across differences – in this case, hummus versus peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

Older children who are ready for more mature themes, such as slavery or war, may appreciate the growing number of books that address the history and current events of Muslim countries.  These include Khephra Burns’ Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali, a fictionalized biography of one of Mali’s celebrated Muslim kings, and Jeannette Winter’s Librarian of Basra, the true story of an Iraqi woman who saved books from destruction during the recent Iraq war.

Please comment below with your own recommendations!

Shirin Sinnar is the mother of two daughters and an assistant professor of law specializing in civil rights and national security.  She lives in Northern California.