Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories and Poems [Hardcover]

Rukhsana Khan (Author), Patty Gallinger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

This insightful collection of stories and poems is a child-centered introduction to Islam. In one story, a boy feels guilty when he short-changes his prayer. In another story, a girl buys candy she can't eat because it contains pork by-products.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grades 2-4--Avowedly didactic, 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 are feeling and thinking, even if the religious basis of those thoughts and emotions is unfamiliar. In one story, a young American Muslim grumbles about having to wake before dawn for 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 religion 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 express purpose is to explain Islam to non-Muslim children, the most avid audience for this book may be American Muslim children excited finally to find stories with characters to whom they can relate.

Coop Renner, Moreno Elementary School, El Paso, TX

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Fictional scenarios stretched thinly over heavy morals introduce the challenges and blessings of being a Muslim child today. In the opening story, a young boy begins his predawn prayers only to fart, a ritual impurity that requires him to begin again. Instead, he goes back to bed--until his conscience propels him to do the right thing. Unfortunately, the lesson may be lost in the snickers, a problem with many of the scenarios here. Readers won't find out much about the everyday life of Muslim children either; Celebrating Ramadan (2000), by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, does a much better job of describing that. But with adult help, they'll learn a number of terms and discover tidbits about Islamic scriptures and history, mostly from the many sidebars that accompany the stories. In a time when non-Muslim children are likely to be asking questions about Islam, this book does have some answers, and its scenarios can serve as springboards for discussion about Islam and religious tolerance. John Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 104 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807553077
• ISBN-13: 978-0807553077
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Islam
  • #29 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Middle East

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique book for all kinds of children, May 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Muslim Child (Hardcover)

Having read Muslim Child, I really think it could be titled "Child". It's for anyone.

I've never seen a book that deals with issues of faith in such a way. As a Catholic I could completely identify with the feelings of the kids in the stories.

It really made me appreciate the similarities between our respective religions.

I think it's this author's best book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Designed to teach young readers about Islam, April 13, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories and Poems (Hardcover)

Written by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Patty Gallinger, and with sidebars by Irfan Alli, Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories And Poems is a selection of stories and poems designed to teach young readers about Islam. Muslim Child is emphatically not a proselytizing book, but rather an informational one, designed to show young people how Islamic children live, what they believe, and what the common practices of their faith are. A highly recommended and educational book for children everywhere, in an increasingly globalized world and in view of contemporary world events.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not only for muslim children, February 14, 2006

By 

Anila (Orlando, Florida!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories and Poems (Hardcover)

This book is so informative and well-written it should be in every muslim house. However, this book is not only very good for muslim children, it is also an excellent book for non-muslim children to read and learn more about islam. It can be used as an excellent tool in a classroom to dispel any misconceptions non-muslim children may carry against their muslim classmates. They will be able to learn more about prayer, fasting, eid and other things that their muslim classmates and friends follow in their lives.