Here is a selection of books from our collection about characters who are Muslim, both Americans and people living in other countries. We strive to include as much varied racial/cultural representation as possible, but these lists also reflect what is available on the market.
These titles are only a sample of what you can find in our full collection. To see more, go to Search the Collection and use the “Content” filter on the left-hand menu for “Sacred Belief Systems” or “Religion Representation.”
Bismillah soup!
A spinoff of the classic Stone Soup folktale, Bismillah Soup is a story about Hasan, a young Somali boy who ventures out to prepare a delicious feast for his mother. With a little bit of elbow grease, a lot of trust in God and the help of his friends and neighbours, Hasan quickly turns his idea into a magnificent plan and gathers the entire community together for a spectacular feast at the local mosque. Hasan’s journey is full of unexpected twists and turns that lead him down a path of discovering what community, generosity and reliance on God truly mean.
Champion
Muhammad Ali was one of the most electrifying, inspiring, and confrontational athletes of his generation. At the height of his boxing career, Ali was as despised as he was adored. Loud and aggressive as well as confident and dedicated, he was the quintessential showman, the undeniable champion of his sport, and one of the most recognizable faces in the world. He was challenged at every turn: faced with racial discrimination in his everyday life, mocked by the sports media as his career began, ridiculed for adopting a new religion, and stripped by the U.S. government of his very livelihood for refusing to go to war. Muhammad Ali faced the obstacles in his life the way he faced his opponents in the ring, brashly and with all the force at his command. In his private life, he was also deeply spiritual, committed to standing up against social injustice, and steadfast in his beliefs. Featuring stunning illustrations and covering his entire life from childhood through his professional career to his end of life battle with Parkinson’s Syndrome, this is a moving tribute to the legacy of this impressive figure
Deep in the Sahara
In Mauritania, West Africa, an Arab girl who wants to wear a malafa, the veiled dress worn by her mother and older sister, learns that the garment represents beauty, mystery, tradition, belonging, and faith
Going to Mecca
We are led on the journey of a lifetime to the city of Mecca–the pilgrimage known to Muslims as the Hajj. The pilgrims walk with heads bare and feet in sandals; they call to Allah; they kiss or point to the Black Stone, as the Prophet did. Arriving at Mecca, they surge round the Ka’aba, shave their heads and travel to Mount Arafat. Finally, though their bodies are tired and aching, their spirits are uplifted, knowing that with thousands of others they have performed the sacred pilgrimage. This is a window on to a sacred journey for Muslims the world over –beautifully described and illustrated for younger children
Golden domes and silver lanterns
With breathtaking illustrations and informative text, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns magnificently captures the world of Islam, celebrating its beauty and traditions for even the youngest readers. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, this entrancing volume is equally at home in the classroom as it is being read to a child on a parent’s lap.
King for a Day
"Even though he is confined to a wheelchair, a Pakistani boy tries to capture the most kites during Basant, the annual spring kite festival, and become "king" for the day. Includes an afterword about the Basant festival"– Provided by publisher
Leila in saffron
Shy and unsure of herself, Leila discovers all the things that make her special with the loving help of her Naani.
Like the Moon Loves the Sky
Illustrations and prose inspired by the Quran celebrate a mother’s love and hopes for her child
Mommy’s khimar
A young Muslim girl puts on a head scarf and not only feels closer to her mother, she also imagines herself as a queen, the sun, a superhero, and more.
The Proudest Blue
Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school
Ramadan moon
A description of the celebration of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan with its concluding celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr from the perspective of children and their family
Sadiq Wants to Stitch
Sadiq loves stitching colorful patterns on rugs. However, his Ammi reminds him that boys in his community don’t stitch, they tend to the livestock. But Sadiq is determined to pursue his passion. This winsome tale that defies gender norms and talks about a fading shepherd craft of Kashmir, is written by Mamta Nainy, and illustrated through watercolor vistas by renowned artist Niloufer Wadia
The Swirling Hijaab
Enter the imaginary world of a little girl playing with her mother’s hijaab. With a swirl of the hijaab, she is at once a brave warrior queen, an adventurous nomad in the desert, a beautiful bride, or inside a Bedouin tent.
Under my hijab
As a young girl observes that each of six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.
Yo soy Muslim
A lyrical celebration of multiculturalism as a parent shares with a child the value of their heritage and why it should be a source of pride, even when others disagree.
