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February 26, 2017 | 27 Comments

10 Picture Books with Muslim Characters

children's books with muslim characters I am so excited about this book list; I have finally gathered enough books to share a list of picture books with Muslim characters. Some of these books are specifically about being Muslim; others are not. This is not a definitive list, there are more picture books with Muslim characters out there, I just didn’t get my hands on them yet, and I only share books I have read. Please leave a comment with a title of any book you feel should have a place on this list and I will make an effort to add it.

Cultural diversity is important, and one way to celebrate diversity is through books. Whether you are a Muslim parent searching for books that reflect your child’s experience, a teacher looking to diversify your bookshelf to include all your students, or a mom like me just hoping to read good books with a variety of experiences both reflective or new to share with your children books are an awesome option. For a more in-depth discussion about diverse books check out my post about why every child needs to read diverse books here. 

This post contains affiliate links.

malala

Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words by Karen Leggett Abouraya is the only non-fiction picture book in this list, and while Malala is not a character, she is certainly a hero. Malala was a young girl in Pakistan when she stood up for education as the Taliban was stripping rights away from people in her Pakistani village. Malala stood up for every child’s right to an education while the Taliban was banning education for girls.  She inspired many and angered the Taliban, who sent a gunman to kill her. She didn’t die, and the fear the Taliban hoped would silence her didn’t quiet her, it motivated her. That is what bravery is; facing danger without showing fear. She survived and speaks out still for the rights of all children to get an education. I can’t read this book without tears flowing. Obviously, very young children will not be ready for this book, I had read it with my son when he was nine and my daughter when she was five. There is no right or wrong time to share this book, read it and chose a time when you think your child will be able to understand and appreciate the importance of Malala’s message.

one green apple

One Green Apple by Eve Bunting is a treat. Sometimes learning about the world means learning about people in our own classroom.  The book is not about apples really at all. Instead, it’s about Farrah, a young Muslim girl who has come to the United States from an unnamed country and her first day at school. The day is spent on a field trip to an orchard, where the children pick apples and make apple cider. I immediately related to this as my first day of work at a school in my new country was trying, although I could speak the language unlike Farrah, it was still daunting to be new in unfamiliar territory.  This is a great chance to talk to your children about when they encountered something new or unfamiliar to foster a connection between them and Farrah. The melting pot analogy is turned into an apple cider one as all the children throw their apples in and work together to press it into cider, even Farrah helps.

Muslim picture books for children

Deep in The Sahara by Kelly Cunnane is a beautiful story of a little girl who so wants to wear a malafa, the colorful cloth that her aunt, cousin, grandmother, and mother wear in public. She notes its beauty, how it moves in the wind, how she wishes to be a lady in one soon, but in the end, it is when she tells her mother that she wishes to wear it to pray like her mother that her mother wraps her in one and they pray together. This is a beautiful book, the illustrations by Hoda Hadadi are stunning, and the intergenerational story of a loving family in West Africa will resonate with you no matter what faith you may or may not practice.

muslim books for children

Nabeel’s New Pants: An Eid Tale retold by Fawzia Gilani-Williams is a funny tale about a family who was all too busy preparing for Eid to help Nabeel shorten his new pants. He decides to do it himself, but trouble starts when everyone else decides they aren’t too busy after all. Kids will love this book that reminds me very much of a Tomi de Paola book, not only the illustrations by Proiti Roy but the lighthearted tale too.

books with muslim characters

My Father’s Shop by Satomi Ichikawa is a funny story about Mustafa who is supposed to be learning new languages with his father so he can learn how to sell rugs to tourists at his father’s shop in Morroco, only Mustafa is off on his own adventure. Wearing an old rug with a hole in it, he goes through the market and attracts the attention of a rooster and a whole gaggle of tourists. In the end, Mustafa learns some new words but not the ones his dad was planning on teaching him. This is a funny book your kids will love.

Picture books with Muslim Characters

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns; A Muslim Book Of Colors by Hena Khan is as much a book about the basics of the Muslim religion as it is a book about colors. A little girl goes through various religious and cultural items of various colors while the rhyming text explains their significance. The test is fun to read, and the illustrations are beautiful, this is a great book to introduce simple facts about Islam to children. I also appreciated the diversity in illustrations that depicted various cultures it made the book feel like it could be set anywhere in the world not just in some “far off” country which helps our children relate to the story if they can imagine this girl walking down their street too.

Muslim books for kids

Night of The Moon by Hena Khan is a wonderful book, though it’s pretty long. The story follows Yasmeen a young Muslim American girl as she prepares and then celebrates the month of Ramadan. Readers learn a lot about traditions and practices of Ramadan as Yasmeen attends parties, gets presents, watches her parents fast and of course celebrates at the Mosque. What I adore about this book is that it shows the diversity of modern day Islam in the United States, her mother doesn’t wear a hijab, but some women at the mosque do, there are Muslims of various races, and from different countries. I think this is a very important message to teach our children, that no one group or ethnicity or religion has only one single story there is diversity in everything and that richness is wonderful! I highly recommend this book.

Books about muslim characters for children

Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan is a wonderful story about how many first generation immigrant children often have to follow the rules that their parents set out for them, even if they don’t fit the cultural norms of their new country. In this Rubina is invited to a birthday party and her mother doesn’t understand that only she is invited and forces her to take her little sister. Things do not go well, but in the end, the family adjusts to how birthday parties are celebrated in their new country, but not without some bumps.

books for children about refugees and muslim characters

I’m New Here by Ann Sibley O’Brien is my daughter’s favorite book right now. I bought it at the school book fair a few months ago, and she takes it to school every day in her backpack to read for independent reading. I totally get why she loves it, the story is pretty universal, even if you aren’t an immigrant. The book is a collection of three stories of children who are immigrants;  Maria from Guatemala, Jin from Korea, and Fatimah from Somalia. Readers see the struggles that the children face learning a new language, feelings of isolation, and then each child gaining confidence in their new home. All children can relate to new experiences, and this book helps to go a little further and imagine not knowing the language it also shows the power of kindness children can show to someone new and how a little goes a long way. I love that the author didn’t explain Fatimah’s hijab because it left the door open for children who do not know what it is to ask without feeling like they are being rude. After reading my own daughter remembered a time when we were at a swimming pool in Chicago and a woman was wearing a hijab, this was years ago, but she didn’t want to ask at the pool because she didn’t want to be rude. That is exactly why diverse books are so powerful; they give our children a safe place to ask questions they may be too shy to ask in the moment.

Books about refugees and muslim chracters for kids

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed is a touching story about friendship in a refugee camp. Lina and Feroza meet when they each find one sandal belonging to a pair when aid workers deliver clothing to the refugee camp where they are living. Instead of one girl having both, they decide to share and their friendship blossoms. The details about how and why they are at the refugee camp are subtle, younger children may not grasp on to them but older children will and it will spark wonderful questions and discussion. The heart of this story is hope amid terrible circumstance and friendship that feeds that hope.

books about muslim characters

Do you know a title that should be on this list? Tell me all about it in comments!

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Kindergarten, Books with Muslim Characters, Diverse Books, Preschool Book Lists | 27 Comments

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27 Comments

  1. Julie says

    February 26, 2017 at 5:28 pm

    I am most definitely disappointed in your last email and post, as much as many people hated that the First Lady open a meeting with our Lord’s Prayer because they are not Christian, still this country our country was and is and it will be based on Christian values, the ones that we need to fight and pursue in the life of our children. The fact that somebody like you, so talented and educated waste your time writing and trying to push a different culture in our American culture is disappointing!

    to Julie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Julie'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      February 28, 2017 at 10:20 am

      My comments are moderated and I have been busy with graduate school assignments, so I missed this.

      The Muslim faith is not a single culture and American culture does not have a single faith. This book list is celebrating a religion that may be different than yours and many of my readers which are the perfect reasons to read it. These books very much have a place here on my blog as well as in this country. As an educator, I feel it is my duty to make sure that this country’s diversity is reflected on my blog, there is not one way to worship, there is not one better religion, and my Christian values taught me that. I am sorry this list disappoints you, I too am disappointed in your view.

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
      • Angelique says

        March 10, 2017 at 11:59 am

        God bless you Allison and this beautiful list. We, too, are Christian and find a great deal of value in exposing our children to those of all faiths and backgrounds, as you rightfully pointed out, is part of the Christian mission. Only when our children see the beauty that surrounds us in our differences can they truly understand their peers and varying points of view. Therefore, making a more peaceful world for us all to live in. ❤

        to Angelique" aria-label='reply to this comment to Angelique'>reply to this comment
      • Meg pj says

        August 3, 2017 at 5:13 am

        Beautifully put! I greatly appreciate having resources like this to support my homeroom (Canadian kids, Syrian and Somali refugees, Korean families, Lebanese Families, LGBT and straight (but not narrow!) thank you for collecting such a wide – and truly representative – range of resources in one place!

        to Meg pj" aria-label='reply to this comment to Meg pj'>reply to this comment
        • Allison McDonald says

          August 6, 2017 at 10:36 pm

          My pleasure!

          to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
      • Younus says

        November 4, 2017 at 4:09 am

        Happy to hear your courageous words, sister. There is always niche for hope in people like you. I am a proud Muslim, and my Prophet and Qur’an taught me to ‘hear the word, and follow the best wherein’.

        to Younus" aria-label='reply to this comment to Younus'>reply to this comment
        • M says

          February 6, 2021 at 3:29 am

          Thank you for this amazing list. I had no idea there where so many amazing books here. God bless you

          to M" aria-label='reply to this comment to M'>reply to this comment
    • Railey says

      March 7, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      The American culture is a melting pot of different cultures. To expose our children to one point of view is limiting them. Besides, can’t make an informed decision about something unless you have exposure to something else, can we?

      to Railey" aria-label='reply to this comment to Railey'>reply to this comment
    • Rose says

      March 20, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      I hope you don’t teach, and if you have children of your own, I hope they grow up to transcend your ignorance.

      to Rose" aria-label='reply to this comment to Rose'>reply to this comment
  2. Fatema says

    February 28, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Hello Allison, thank you for publishing this booklist. We own a few of the titles and I plan to buy the ones we are missing. A title that wasn’t on your list that you may want to consider is the Iliyas and Duck series by Omar Khawaja, especially Iliyas and Duck and the Fantastic Festival of Eid-al-Fitr. In the book the author introduces readers to not only Eid-al-Fitr but also Hanukkah and Christmas.

    to Fatema" aria-label='reply to this comment to Fatema'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      February 28, 2017 at 9:59 pm

      Thank you Fatema, that sounds like something I would love to share with my readers. I will find a copy.

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  3. Anne Sibley O'Brien says

    March 4, 2017 at 6:43 pm

    Thank you, Allison, for including I’M NEW HERE in this wonderful and important list. I’m so delighted to hear about your daughter’s response to my book!

    I also wanted to let you know about another book I illustrated, MOON WATCHERS: SHIRIN’S RAMADAN MIRACLE by Reza Jalali. Reza came to the US more than 2 decades ago as a Kurdish refugee from Iran and raised his family in Maine. When he couldn’t find the book he wanted to share with his son and daughter about his faith, he decided to write it himself. It’s unique among picture books I’ve seen in the way it shows a typical American suburban family who happen to also be Muslim. My illustrations are inspired by his family and their home.

    to Anne Sibley O'Brien" aria-label='reply to this comment to Anne Sibley O'Brien'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      March 5, 2017 at 11:13 am

      Anne, thank you for writing such a great inclusive book. I love seeing my daughter read it and when I volunteered in her class her teacher was reading it to her 1/2 class as well. It’s a great book. Thank you as well for this other book recommendation. I will find the book and share it once I can read it, I love that it is a typical American family because that helps readers not put Muslims into the “other” category. We don’t need to have hyphenated American labels because Americans are diverse. Thanks again!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  4. Bilal says

    October 15, 2017 at 9:30 am

    This ia a wonderful list. I think you should add the two noble scribes by June publishing and the muslims graphic novel by Ahmad Philips. My son especially loved these two.

    to Bilal" aria-label='reply to this comment to Bilal'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      October 17, 2017 at 9:29 am

      Thank you for the rec!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  5. S says

    November 27, 2017 at 7:37 am

    I am a Muslim mom (and former public school teacher) and this was one of the first links that popped up on Google as I was searching for new books for my kids…thank you so much for writing and posting this list…it means a lot to see this on such a mainstream and popular site like yours.

    (ps, I have been following you for years, since my kids were babies, for homeschool ideas!)

    to S" aria-label='reply to this comment to S'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      November 27, 2017 at 8:12 am

      You are so welcome and thank you for joining us for so long!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  6. Darcey Rosenblatt says

    June 25, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    Thanks so much for this Allison – and for all you do – it’s important to remember that our country had it’s roots in freedom of religion! This is a great list. I bet you are aware of the new Simon and Schuster imprint Saalam Reads – dedicated to bringing muslim stories to all young readers. There is some exciting stuff coming out from this imprint.

    I’d humbly suggest my recent debut LOST BOYS (Henry Holt – paperback out this summer) for slightly older readers (6-8th grade) telling the story of young Iranian soldiers in 1982-3. Again – thanks for your good work!

    to Darcey Rosenblatt" aria-label='reply to this comment to Darcey Rosenblatt'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      July 7, 2018 at 11:13 am

      I didn’t know about that imprint, how exciting, and so needed! I am eager to get your book, my uncle ( well he’s my husband’s uncle but I claim him) is Persian and my aunt and cousin all fled Iran after the revolution started. This is a great book for my son to dive into!

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  7. Andrew Tyler says

    February 3, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    The Yasmin book series is a great one for kids that are starting early chapter books!

    to Andrew Tyler" aria-label='reply to this comment to Andrew Tyler'>reply to this comment
  8. Hannah M says

    March 3, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Thank you for this wonderful list! I teach at a refugee resettlement school in Maryland and many of my students are Muslim immigrants. My students adore the book “Lost and Found Cat” by Amy Shrodes & Doug Kuntz so I highly recommend adding that to the list!

    to Hannah M" aria-label='reply to this comment to Hannah M'>reply to this comment
  9. Aisha says

    May 28, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    Wonderful to see this list! A book I would like to recommend is “Ramadan Around the World by Ndaa Hassan”. Its culturally diverse (representing Muslim kids around the world) and inclusive with children of different abilities!

    to Aisha" aria-label='reply to this comment to Aisha'>reply to this comment
  10. ThomasJoe12 says

    February 3, 2021 at 11:59 pm

    Kudos for the inspiring website you’ve created at topctlimo.com. Your enthusiasm is definitely inspiring. Thanks again!

    to ThomasJoe12" aria-label='reply to this comment to ThomasJoe12'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Book List 2017-18 | Baby Toddler Book Club says:
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  2. 10 Lessons I Want My Kids To Learn and Books That Help Teach Them – newspaperperiod.com says:
    October 22, 2017 at 3:39 pm

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  3. Ramadan Activities + Muslim Kids - Fun with Mama says:
    April 27, 2018 at 2:22 pm

    […] Want to explore more? Then check out these picture books with muslim characters. […]

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  4. I loved Under My Hijab! – Mom Read It says:
    February 12, 2019 at 11:15 am

    […] Muslim middle grade and YA resources out there, too: here’s a list of picture books from No Time for Flash Cards; list of books from Diversity in YA; here’s a list from Goodreads, and a great list from […]

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