Even during Ramadan we look for ways and means to keep our children and teenagers entertained. What better way than to do this than by providing them with a wonderful selection of informative and attractive books to read. Better yet, create a family circle time where all members of the family read Qur’an (and/or ahadeeth) listen to a story and then discuss their thoughts and feelings .
The following is a list of books (fiction and non-fiction) that you may consider reading and sharing with your children and teens during this Ramadan [I know it seems late to be posting this list, after all half of Ramadan is over, but it’s better late than never. I am sure someone will benefit from it, inshaAllah (God Willing)]:
Note: I have read all the titles listed here and personally recommend them. You will find a brief summary of each title and clicking on a title will take you to the publisher or online bookstore.
Ramadan Reading for young children (4-7 years):
Pizza in his pocket. Learning to be thankful to Allah by Jawah Abdul Rahman (Goodword Books)
A simple picture book with a big message. Young readers meet a little boy who learns that while Allah has given him a variety of food (think of baklava, samosas and pizza, of course), he should not overeat. When he meets a hungry girl, he decides to do something good with all the food he has. For ages 4-7.
A Time to Give by Mennah I. Bakkar (Arab Scientific Publishers)
A lovely picture book that introduces the concept of charity to young children and the importance of giving to those in need. For ages 5-8.
A to Z of Akhlaaq. Moral values for children by Sr. Nafees Khan (Goodword Books)
Each page introduces a moral o ra good habit every Muslim child should learn and practice, from truthfulness to generosity to patience. Vibrant illustrations depict children in various situations which help to make abstract concepts easy to understand. This book would be great not only for parents to read-aloud to their children, but for teachers (Islamic or weekend school) to use in their Islamic studies lessons. For ages 4-9.
The Kind Man and the Thirsty Dog (Upright Series 1) by Umar and Salimah Salim (Al-Hidaayah)
Beautiful illustrations and simple narration describes a hadith narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the man who Allah forgave because of his kindness to a thirsty dog. For ages 4-6.
Allah Gave Me Two Ears to Hear by Amrana Arif (The Islamic Foundation)
Beautiful watercolour illustrations draw young readers into the world of a little girl as she describes the wonders she hears in the world around her using her ears. Children will love to chime in the refrain on every page, “Allah gave me two ears to hear…” This book is part of “Allah the Maker Series” which cover the five senses and includes these titles as well: Allah Gave me Two Hands and Feet, Allah Gave me a Nose to Smell, Allah Gave me Two Eyes to See and Allah Gave me a Tongue to Taste. For ages 4-6.
Ramadan Reading for older children and preteens (8-11 years):
A Great Friend of Children by M. S. Kayani (The Islamic Foundation)
A revised edition of what I consider a classic, A Great Friend of Children is a collection of six short stories about noble and beautiful actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as he interacted with the children around him. For ages 7 to 11. [Note: I’m unsure whether this book is still available; but I do know that it is available on audio CD see here.]
image source ukiabooks.com
The Fire that Saved. The Story of the Prophet Ibrahim adapted from writings by Maulana Abdul Hasan Ali Nadwi (UK Islamic Academy)
A captivating narration of the life of the Prophet Ibrahim, this chapter book will hold the interest of older children as they read in detail about the life of this great man. For ages 8 to 11.
image source taha.co.uk
Imran Learns about Qur’an by Sajda Nazlee (Ta-Ha)
A beautiful, simple short story about a boy named Imran who has learnt his Arabic alphabet and is about to get his own copy of a Qur’an. His natural curiosity causes him to ask many questions. His mother and father tell him all about the Quran, how it was revealed, its significance. For ages 7 to 10.
image source iqra.org
My Moroccan Village (Islamic Village Stories) by Luqman Nagy (Goodword Books).
If you ever wanted to introduce your children/students to the life and history of Muslims in rural areas of another culture then this story (and the others in the series) is ideal. A boy named Abd al Hay takes us on a journey though his village located in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. He shows how houses and the masjid are constructed, the craft-work of the villagers and the food. Also in the Islamic Village Stories series are these titles: My Turkish Village, My Yemeni Village, My Chinese Village, My Palestinian Village, and My Hausa Village. For ages 8-11.
image source al-hidaayah.co.uk
The Story of the Leper, the Bald and the Blind (Upright Series 1) by Umar and Salimah Salim (Al-Hidaayah).
A story (from a hadeeth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which demonstrates why we should be grateful for what Allah has blessed us with. For ages 8-11. Other titles in this series for this age group include The King, the Boy and the Sorcerer, Al Khadir and the Begger and The Man and the Gold.
Ramadan Reading for teenagers (12-16 years):
image source islamicbookstore.com
Companions of the Prophet by Abdul Wahid Hamid (MELS)
The lives of thirty companions, men and women, of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are told in a compelling, easy-to-read format in this first volume (of a two-volume set). The troubles, trials and achievements of these companions bring the richness of early Islamic history to life. For ages 12 and up.
image source ifna.net/bookstore.htm
Isabella. A Girl of Muslim Spain by Yahiya Emerick (IBTS)
A beautiful story of a young girl’s courage and determination to find the truth despite the odds that face her. Set in Spain during the time of Islam’s presence and power in that country, Isabella learns and teaches Islam to those around her. For ages 11 to 16.
In the Prophet’s Garden. A Selection of Ahadith for the Young Compiled by Fatima M. D’Oyen and Abdelkader Chachi (The Islamic Foundation)
This is a beautiful collection of ahadeeth on various Islamic topics including eman (faith), repentance, respect for elders, friendship, knowledge and good manners. The book includes stunning photos of nature and decorative borders that compliment the text. For ages 12 and up.
Tell Me About Prophet Muhammad by Saniyasnain Khan (Goodword Books)
This book is a fascinating look at the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) using photos, maps, pictures of relics and captivating narration. It is great for Islamic studies lesson or just for general reading and discussion. A list of ayat of Quranic references is included at the end. Other titles in the series are Tell Me about Prophet Yusuf, Tell me About Prophet Musa, Tell Me About the Hajj and Tell Me about the Creation. For ages 10 to 16.
Child Companions around the Prophet translated by Sameh Strauch (Darussalam)
Here we meet ten companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during their childhood and youth. Rather than narrated as a story, each chapter is subdivided into sub-sections that give a factual account of the lives of companions such as Abdullah ibn Zubair, Anas ibn Malik, Usamah bin Zaid and Hasan bin Ali to name a few. The narration shows how these young companions interacted with and benefitted from the Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the information provides good role models for our current generation of young adults. For ages 12 and up.