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

Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs. By Sarah Conover & Freda Crane. Illustrated by Valerie Wahl. (Eastern Washington University Press, 2004). This lovely anthology collects and retells religious and cultural stories from the Muslim world. Some are central to Islam, like the account of how a spider’s web and dove’s nest shielded the Prophet Muhammad during his flight from Mecca or the Quranic account of Jesus’ birth. Others are beloved tales from West Africa to China, including those of the famous folk character Mulla Nasruddin. The authors made a particular effort to include stories of girls and women and to feature tales that resonate with multicultural and multi-faith audiences. Although this book is aimed at young adults, I’ve used it to share stories with my little one. As my girls grow older, I hope to learn these stories well enough to retell on my own, in the best traditions of our oral cultures.