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

Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World. By Natalie Maydell & Sep Riahi. Paintings by Heba Amin. (Global Content Ventures, 2007). When a friend some time ago solicited suggestions for famous Muslim women that his eight-year-old could write about for a class biography project, I could think of only a handful that might fit the bill. This anthology featuring thirteen Muslim women throughout history will be invaluable the next time I hear a similar request. The selection is diverse, ranging from Khadija, the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, to Tjut Njak Dien, an Acehnese anti-colonial guerrilla leader, to Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Laureate and Iranian women’s rights activist.

The stories are engagingly narrated, with vivid details that would appeal to young adult readers, and accompanied by lovely oil paintings. I appreciated the fact that the stories include helpful social context before introducing unfamiliar practices in the lives of some of the women, like polygamy. I could relate to the values these accounts emphasize – the strength and equality of women, social justice, and a respect for Islam. Although this book is aimed at young adults, I’m delighted to have this one on our shelves as Maryam grows up.