Decolonise Your Child’s Book Shelf With Books Featuring Black Muslim Characters
by Black Muslim Forum in Culture & Lifestyle on 4th March, 2020
Creating an environment where an individual feels accepted and seen begins young, it begins at the fingertips of young hands flicking through books and playing with toys. We are living in an era where we are seeing our names in literature and our faces staring back at us in books. There is a range of books to choose from for the little ones and Black Muslim Forum has created a help document of recommended reads, the list is vast so we have picked a few titles from the document to view the comprehensive list please check the Black Muslim Forum.
KS0, KS1 (ages 3-7)
Treasures of Jannah by Yasmin Egala
Treasures of Jannah is the story of twins Adam and Hana who love to visit their Grandma. Grandma gives the best cuddles and tells the best stories, but today, she shares another tale. Instead of a story, Grandma tells them of a place of wonder and delight – Jannah
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Basirah the Basketballer says Insha’Allah by Hafsah Dabiri
“The aim of this book is to inspire little Muslim girls of colour especially to not only to be sporty but to not be scared of the ups and downs of life! The book is here to uplift and show our little girls that they are represented and their dreams of being active are possible! ”
KS2 (ages 7-11)
Going to Mecca By Naima B. Robert
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 around 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.
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KS3 (ages 11-14)
Muslim Girl by Umm Zakkiyah
From Somalia With Love is one girl’s quest to discover who she is – a story that, while rooted in Somali and Muslim life, strikes a chord with young people everywhere. Faith turns to shame, confidence to doubt, and conviction to rebellion. Inaya was only nine when her mother converted to Islam and moved the family to Saudi Arabia. Now, at sixteen years old, Inaya returns to America and decides to remove her Muslim clothes and hide her religion at school. …And she hopes to get the attention of a boy she likes. But she has no idea how to hide this double life from her mother, and from everyone who admires her strong faith.
KS1 & KS2 (ages 5-11)
Heart and soul
The story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson. This richly illustrated 108-page book chronicles the immense challenges and important societal contributions of African-Americans throughout history. It’s told from the unique perspective of a wise, old African-American “Everywoman” narrator whose ancestors arrived on slave ships and who lives to proudly cast a vote for the nation’s first black president.
Ashanti to Zulu
African Traditions by Margaret Musgrove. This book is a book about African traditions. It uses the alphabet to take the reader through parts of African’s life.
KS3 (Ages 11-4)
Mansa Musa and the Empire of Mali P.
James Oliver Oliver’s well-researched biography of Mansa Musa reads like an exotic tale of gold, glory, and adventure. During his long reign as Mali’s emperor, Mansa Musa led his empire into its Golden Age; presided over a spectacular, 60,000-person, 9,000-mile pilgrimage; founded a university in Timbuktu; and helped revolutionise architecture across the Sudan. Oliver does not allow Musa’s story to get bogged down in detail by seamlessly weaving a lot of history into his narrative and by supplying curious readers with an extensive Glossary.
Black Muslim Forum
A platform dedicated to bringing awareness and creating solutions to combat racism, colourism, and anti-Blackness in the Muslim community. Currently gathering date on anti-blackness and colourism.
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