The Most Magnificent Mosque [Hardcover]

Ann Jungman (Author), Shelley Fowles (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Visitors to the mosque at Cordoba are plagued by the tricks of three naughty boys: Muslim Rashid, Jewish Samuel, and Christian Miguel. As punishment, the boys are forced to work in the mosque gardens, where they develop a deep sense of the building's beauty and significance. Years later, when the Christian king threatens to demolish the Islamic mosque and build a church in its place, the three friends reunite to hatch a plan to save the great mosque. Ann Jungman's moving story and Shelley Fowles's captivating images show how cooperation and respect for others can lead to great things.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–An author's note provides some historical background for this story set in Spain. Three mischievous boys roughhouse in the gardens of Cordoba's Great Mosque and drop oranges on people's heads. When they are finally caught, the Caliph sentences them to work on the grounds for three months. After this experience, the boys come to appreciate the beauty of the building. Years later, when a Christian king threatens to tear down the mosque to build a church, the three friends–one a Christian, one a Jew, and one a Muslim–convince him that all three communities want the structure to remain. Since the town speaks with one voice, the king agrees and the mosque still stands today. Vibrant, colorful paintings depict the action and setting of the story. The illustrations reveal the characters' feelings as they react to the unfolding events. This appealing story emphasizes the theme that when individuals work together, everyone wins.–Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA
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Review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books (February 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845070127
• ISBN-13: 978-1845070120
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,106,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An AWAIR Pick!!!, May 15, 2011

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AWAIR Reviews (Berkeley, US) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Most Magnificent Mosque (Paperback)

Rashid (a Muslim), Samuel (a Jew), and Miguel (a Christian) love playing tricks in the gardens of Cordoba's Great Mosque. When the Caliph sentences the naughty boys to three months of gardening, they grow to love the cool beauty of the Mosque, and years later, when a Christian king wants to pull the building down, the three old friends decide something must be done on behalf of all the citizens of Cordoba, whether Muslim, Jew or Christian. This moving story and its captivating images show how cooperation and respect for others can lead to great things.

Won an award from the Middle East Outreach Council (MEOC).

Teachers/Librarians: very suitable for 2nd to 6th grades - social studies / humanities