One of the things that is wonderful about Canton is the diversity of faiths in our community. Stories where kids see both themselves and others are so important to uplift.
From young easy readers to chapter books, there are many children’s books that feature Muslim characters. Whether you’re looking for representation during this month of Ramadan (which falls during the month of March in 2025) or helping your kids find good books in general, we recommend checking out these titles.
Early Readers
Ali the Great and the Bug Hunt Hazard – Second grader Ali goes insect hunting in the park with his mother, but soon feels like the bugs are out to get him! His mother reminds him that he is a visitor in the insects' world.
Meet Ms. Marvel– Kamala Khan—also known as Ms. Marvel—is an amazing superhero who can stretch and bend in any shape she likes.
Ramadan Cookies – Nadia and Nadir begin their celebration of Ramadan by making cookies with their parents. When their crescent moon cookie cutter goes missing, Nadia must get creative.
Sadiq and the Desert Star – In this first book of a reader series, we meet Sadiq. Before his father goes on a business trip, he tells Sadiq the story of the Desert Star.
Wonderbooks (Read-alongs)
A Ramadan to Remember – Ramadan is almost here! It's Zain's favorite time of the year. Well, it usually is. After a recent move and with no mosque or Islamic school in his new neighborhood, will Zain find a new Muslim friend to celebrate with him?
Amira's Picture Day – Amira is excited because tomorrow is Eid! There will be special clothes, treats, gifts and a morning party at her mosque. Then she realizes that something else she has been looking forward to—class picture day—is happening on the same day. Can Amira figure out a way to be in two places at once?
Fatima's Great Outdoors – During an exciting camping trip in a Midwestern state park, Fatima helps her family set up a tent, build a fire and fend off a daddy longlegs before settling down to sleep surrounded by the near-magical sounds of the forest.
Meet Yasmin! – Yasmin is a spirited 2nd grader, a curious explorer and is always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. Meet Yasmin and her Pakistani American family in this read-along Wonderbook. You can also read more find other books with Yasmin in our early readers.
Picture Books
A Mermaid Girl – It’s summertime and Heba can’t wait to wear her new, yellow burkini for the first time. When she gets to the pool and gets asked many questions, she feels like she is standing out too much. With the help of her mama, she connects with the mermaid girls of the women before her and shows her friends she can swim and play just like them.
Insha'allah, No, Maybe So – Ranya gets frustrated when she asks her mom for something and her mom just says "Insha'allah." Caregivers and parents know that sometimes you just can’t make promises. As the two talk, though, both Ranya and her mom ponder the powerful meaning of Insha'allah.
The Night Before Eid – It’s the night before Eid al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of Ramadan. In this picture book, three generations of Egyptian Americans share special memories and a precious recipe in preparation for the feast.
The Proudest Blue – Faizah has a lot to be excited about—it’s a new year, the first day of school and it’s the first day of her older sister, Asiya, wearing her beautiful hijab to school. When not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, the sisters will find ways to feel proud and strong.
Salat in Secret – On his 7th birthday, Muhammad receives a special salat rug for praying. He’s determined to do all five daily prayers on time. When he realizes one salat occurs during the school day, he worries about being seen praying at school. But with the help of his teacher, he finds the perfect place for it.
Zain's Super Friday – Zain greets Friday morning ready to play—using superhero powers to “save the world!” But first he goes to Friday prayers at the mosque with father, while learning about the rituals of Islam.
Early Elementary Chapter Books
The Treasure of Timbuktu – The Jannah Jewels series is filled with adventure, history and action. In the first book of the series, the characters time travel to the ancient city of Timbuktu. Someone has stolen a priceless manuscript, and they must follow clues to solve the mystery and find it.
Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party – Marya says she is having an epic henna party for her eighth birthday. Except, she hadn’t quite run the idea by her family yet. Now she must convince her family to make it happen, but everything Marya does seems to end in disaster.
Friends Fur-ever – In the first of the “Must Love Pets” series, we meet Imaan Bashir, who loves dogs. She doesn’t have her own—yet. Can she show her mom that a dog in their lives is meant to be?
Snow White – In this retelling of Snow White, her cruel stepmother learns from her jinn that Snow White is the “fairest of them all.” To survive her stepmother’s devious plans, Snow White must escape. She meets seven dwarf sisters-in-faith, a mysterious old peddler woman in the woods wearing a face veil, a considerate huntsman and a charming prince. This title can be found in our magical Fairy Tales and Folklore section.
Middle Grade and Upper Elementary Chapter Books
Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year – When Ahmed’s dad gets sick, his family moves from Hawaii to Minnesota. Adjusting to such a big change is an enormous challenge and he feels so out of place. With the help of three life-changing books he reads in school, though, he learns to like reading, and ultimately, himself.
Amira & Hamza – Amira and her little brother, Hamza, can't stop arguing while attending a special exhibit on medieval Islamic astronomy. While stargazer Amira is wowed by the amazing gadgets, a bored Hamza wanders off and stumbles across the mesmerizing and forbidden Box of the Moon. When Hamza grabs the box and it springs to life, it sets off a series of terrible events. The siblings learn of their role in an ancient prophecy and that they must battle a great evil together.
The Girl and the Ghost – In this retelling of a Malaysian folk tale, we follow Suraya, a Muslim Malay girl who inherits a pelesit from her grandmother. The pelesit is a ghostly demon, who proves to be an interesting companion that brings both danger and hope.
Grounded – After attending a huge Muslim convention, four kids end up stuck at the airport because of a thunderstorm. Told in alternating points of view, their lives are changed forever as they learn to have more in common than they originally think.
Accidental Trouble Magnet – Omar is an imaginative, funny kid who is going through the ups and downs of moving, starting a new school and making new friends. Thankfully he has the help of his wonderful (and humorous) Muslim family along the way.
Rumaysa – For as long as she can remember Rumaysa has been locked away in her tall, tall tower, forced to use her magic to spin straw into gold for the evil Witch. One day, after dropping a hijab out of her small tower-window, Rumaysa realizes how she might be able to escape.
Safiyyah's War – During World War II, the Grand Mosque of Paris sheltered Jewish neighbors during the Nazi regime. This historical fiction novel follows Safiyyah, a girl living in the mosque during this time. When her father is arrested by the Nazis for his secret Resistance work, it falls on Safiyyah to be brave and run the dangerous errands around the city to help her Jewish neighbors seek sanctuary.
Zara's Rules for Record-breaking Fun – Zara is known as "Queen of the Neighborhood"—she organizes the other children, sets the rules and generally makes sure everyone has fun. When another 10-year-old, Naomi moves in across the street, she has her own ideas about fun games and suddenly the other kids are listening to Naomi instead. Zara is determined to get her influence back and knows she needs to come up with something quick. An old copy of the Guinness Book of World Records gives her an idea to do just that.
Graphic Novels
Nayra and the Djinn – Nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour. Between constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless bullying from her classmates and exhausting demands from her friend Rami, Nayra has had enough. Just when she's considering transferring schools to escape it all, a mysterious djinn named Marjan appears. Marjan uses their powers and wisdom to help Nayra navigate her overwhelming life. But Marjan's own past is fraught with trouble, and if they don't face what they've done, Nayra could pay the price.
Piece by Piece – On her way home from giving a presentation for World Culture Day about Bangladesh, Nisrin becomes a victim of a hate crime when a man violently attacks her for wearing a headscarf. Deeply traumatized by the experience, Nisrin spends the summer depressed and isolated. When fall arrives and it's time for her to start freshman year at a new school, Nisrin makes a decision: she tells her family she's going to start wearing hijab. To her confusion, her mother and grandparents have shocked and angry reactions. Instead of deterring her, their response only strengthens her resolve. This choice puts Nisrin on a path to not only discover more about Islam, but also her family's complicated relationship with the religion and why they left Bangladesh in the first place.
Saving Sunshine – Zara and Zeeshan are two siblings that really can't stand each other. During a family trip to Florida, the bickering, shoving and insults reach new heights of chaos. As a result, their parents sentence them to the worst possible fate—each other's company! But when the twins find an ailing turtle they want to help, it presents a rare opportunity to put their differences aside at last and work together.
We Are Big Time – In this graphic novel that is inspired by a true story, new Muslim student Aliya joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team. As she plays the sport, she learns about teamwork and herself.
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