Best Children's Muslim Fiction
Magnificently capturing the colorful world of Islam for the youngest readers, this breathtaking and informative picture book celebrates Islam's beauty and traditions. Hena Khan's first picture book, Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story , was a 2009 Booklist "Top 10 Religion Book for Youth."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My kids love the fact that they are so many Islamic kids books out there "for them" I bought this several times for my kids' friends also."
"The illustrations are beautiful and it's a great easy read to keep children interested."
"My two year old son enjoys looking at all the pictures and images even though he may not fully understand it right now."
"With perfect rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this book provides a simple introduction to the world of Islam as seen through the eyes of a young narrator."
"I want to raise an open minded child capable of choosing her own beliefs (or lack thereof). To be able to do so I'd have to introduce her to all religions since they've began introducing her without my consent (and against my wishes). This book is a great introduction to Islam for a 5 year old ."
"Fantastic book, my 2 year old loves it."
"This book was purchased to add cultural awareness to my classroom."
"My 2 year old loves this book."
*Notable Social Studies Trade Book For Young People 2016, a cooperative Project of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council*. *Featured Book of the Month, Anti-Defamation League*. *American Library Association Notable Book for Children 2016*. Lailah falters when it is time to give Mrs. Penworth a note asking that she be excused from lunch, and she has to endure the tempting smells of food and kind offers of her classmates to share lunch. After escaping to the foodless library, the school librarian encourages Lailah to write down her feelings and share them with her teacher.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"She simply, yet clearly, illustrated what a lot of the younger Muslim generations (and even some adults) go through in trying to explain to their fellow students (or co-workers) of other faiths about why they are not eating or even "just drinking water" with them during snack or lunch breaks."
"This is a wonderful, touching book...a beautiful story beautifully illustrated."
"This book helps young children to realize that we may all look different, but we all have the same feelings of wanting to fit in."
"This book is fantastic and a well received addition to my children's library."
"A great story about being brave about one's differences and standing up for one's own beliefs."
"Lovely Ramadan book for all ages!"
"My daughters name is Lailah ( spelt exactly the same way) she loves to read it."
"Perfect classroom book to introduce children to the muslim month of ramadan."
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. Hena Khan has written children's books on a wide variety of topics, and she takes particular interest in writing about her Muslim culture.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My kids love the fact that they are so many Islamic kids books out there "for them" I bought this several times for my kids' friends also."
"The illustrations are beautiful and it's a great easy read to keep children interested."
"My two year old son enjoys looking at all the pictures and images even though he may not fully understand it right now."
"With perfect rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this book provides a simple introduction to the world of Islam as seen through the eyes of a young narrator."
"I want to raise an open minded child capable of choosing her own beliefs (or lack thereof). To be able to do so I'd have to introduce her to all religions since they've began introducing her without my consent (and against my wishes). This book is a great introduction to Islam for a 5 year old ."
"Fantastic book, my 2 year old loves it."
"This book was purchased to add cultural awareness to my classroom."
"My 2 year old loves this book."
Best Children's Islam Books
The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an for School Children is a graphic-intensive translation of the Qur'an tailored to the needs and interests of young readers. Yahiya Emerick is a prolific author of books related to Middle Eastern religion and culture.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a very very simple translation of quran even so that I read it with the kids everyday and I enjoy it and the kids enjoy it too. I had their cousins over for the New Years and even they sat down and read it."
"This is a must have for every Muslim family with kids that are in need of an English interpretation to the Quran."
"It reaffirms your faith and you get a good understanding of our Holy Qur'an."
"The introductions to the chapters/Suwar are good, but the translation is inelegant."
"Very helpful for Muslim children studying in secular schools where learning about the Quran is the responsibility of the parents."
"Great book, well written."
"Wonderful and easy translation for both adults and children."
"And I think it will make a great gift for adults and kids alike."
Best Children's Religious Holiday Books
This festively designed boxed set of five Little Golden Books doesn't even need gift-wrap!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"gift for a child."
"Every child should have at least a few of these books."
"He is fascinated by the Nativity Story as well as the Elf story."
"I bought the bundle and split them up to give to my two, two year old granddaughters at Christmas."
"These books are great!"
Best Children's Hindu Fiction
"Amme Tell Me" is a charming and informative series of children's books that introduces the major Hindu festivals and figures to young readers, and are perfect for families wanting to share stories of Hinduism with their children or for educators looking for resource on the Hindu culture for their students. The idea for the 'Amma, Tell Me' series of books came as a way to introduce her sons to Indian mythology and festivals.When not writing, working or running after her boys, she is happiest curled up with a book and a hot cup of chai.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Had purchased a few other Diwali books and was unhappy with how straightforward the pictures and story was - they would not hold my 3 year-old's attention."
"The illustrations are stunning!"
"It's really hard to find books and other materials that are appropriate for bicultural kids."
"I was concerned that the book itself was paperback and not a hardcover book - though the pages are very thick and sturdy."
"Got for my child."
"I bought it to teach my kids the story of Diwali and it truly did not dissapoint!"
"I just got this to read to my 4 year old."
"Beautifully illustrated book --- colorful backgrounds and characters!"
Best Children's Buddhist Fiction
Master storyteller Dharmachari Nagaraja offers 18 beautifully illustrated bedtime stories, inspired by the Buddhist folk tradition, for parents to read to their children. Dharmachari Nagaraja was ordained into the Western Buddhist Order in 1993 and is an experienced broadcaster.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"First off the book is a great quality."
"Sometimes the way a lesson is "taught" to a character in the story is through an unkind act (i.e. "I let you see and feel what the little rabbit saw and felt as you hurt it."). I do not think exposing my children (4 and 6 y/o) to this is worthwhile when there are stories that teach virtues without specific ways to be unkind. At the end of most of stories (stopped reading them to my children after a few and skimmed the rest) I didn't feel at peace. The following are just a few examples from the book of dialog that I did not enjoy reading to my children: "You'd forget your own head if it wasn't stuck on" said her mother (to her daughter). "It's just a dumb animal" laughed Hazel "Are you a bit stupid?"
"This is SUCH a great book to read to your kids!"
"The art is beautiful and the stories are fun."
"He's a worrier so these stories help him relax and see the positive things in life."
"This book offers a great way to introduce the practice of Buddhism to young people."
"We love these bed time stories and meditations."
"Awesome stories with practical lessons."
Best Children's Jewish Fiction Books
This 25th anniversary edition of a now-classic tale relates how Hersehel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Won the Caldecott Award the year it was published!"
"I usually don't like goblins and witches stories or anything scary for that matter and I don't do Halloween, BUT I really enjoyed this book immensely."
"My kids (6 & 9) love this story."
"Loved the beautiful illustrations!"
"Before giving it, I admit—I reread the book, and it definitely holds up even as an adult."
"I am confused by the review that says this book advocates violence as Hershel tricks all of the goblins without physically hurting them (though I suppose he does threaten one of them)."
"I ordered this book to be a part of our Hanukkah unit, and the kids loved the story so much that we read during free time every day through the month of December."
"Great story about an everyday guy who uses his brains and faith to outwit a horrible adversary."
Best Children's Christian Fiction Books
These sweet, sometimes silly rhymes and adorable art are sure to make God Bless You and Good Night a favorite part of the bedtime ritual for parents and children. Hannah C. Hall estimates that she has read approximately 4,500 bedtime stories to her children over the last few years.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Highly recommended for very young children or older children to read to younger siblings."
"This was bought as a gift."
"I purchased as an e-book for when the lights are out and my kids still can’t sleep, I can read this to them."
"Very nice bedtime read..."
"Just as expected, happy with purchase."
"Very sweet story with darling pics."
"Gave it to my cousin for her baby shower instead of a card."
Best Other Children's Religious Fiction
This edition presents the seven books— The Magician's Nephew ; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy ; Prince Caspian ; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ; The Silver Chair ; and The Last Battle —unabridged and arranged in C. S. Lewis's preferred order. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to readers of all ages, even fifty years after they were first published.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, the book description says "text only", which is strange, because this copy has tons of the original illustrations in full-color (I'll try to post pictures soon)."
"This is a beautiful paperback box set of the Narnia collection, that so many of us grew up with."
"We are living in such tumultuous times with a medieval death squad marching from the middle east slaughtering innocents, we need teach of children that good is worth sacrifice."
"This is a great edition of the series."
"My old copy of the narnia books was so worn and tattered and the binding barely sticking to the duck tape that I set out looking for a new and better copy after 10 years of reading my old copy. I found this beautiful edition that I have wanted for a long time for an awesome price, I paid 22 dollars plus shipping and handling, the book on amazon is described as: The Complete Chronicles of Narnia (text only) by C. S. Lewis."
"The latter provides a glimpse into the evolution of C.S.Lewis' writing, but my nonscholarly interest slacked off quickly."
"Lewis did a very good job writing these stories and used very exciting words. It was about how Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund fell in love with Aslan and became kinds and queens of Narnia.""
"maybe the description stated that and maybe I missed it, I haven't bothered to go back and look, but I would have liked it better as 7 books."