Wharnsby, a poet and musician, offers a collection of modern poems and songs for Muslim children everywhere.
He combines religious thoughts with contemporary concerns and incorporates universal principles of truth, peace and faith. The book includes poems about the celebration of Ramadan, the need to submit to Allah’s will, and Islamic racial diversity. Arabic phrases are woven into the poems and appear in the glossary. Detailed paintings are full of everyday activities, children in many different modes of dress, natural landscapes and cityscapes from many countries. There is always something to explore, especially in the double-page spreads devoted to the title poem, “Colours of Islam,” and “Sing, Children of the World.” The intent of the sentimental poetry is sometimes awkwardly expressed: “Our busy little lives can make us crazy, / and it’s so easy to get stuck in a routine.” The occasional typo may cause readers to stumble. The accompanying CD is more dynamic than the text, using chanting, folk rhythms, different voices and instruments. Royalties are given to an educational trust, supervised by the writer. The book’s heart is in the right place, and readers who use it with the CD should enjoy it. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-86037-591-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Islamic Foundation
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
A charming contemporary story with a classic feel.
A 10 ¾-year-old girl weathers changes in her social circle—and her sense of self.
Dubbed “Queen of the Neighborhood” by beloved neighbor Mr. Chapman, who has sadly left Maryland for balmy Florida, Zara is apprehensive when a family with two kids moves into his house, potentially upsetting the delicate social balance. Readers familiar with Khan’s Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream books, set a few years after this series opener, will recognize the bustling Pakistani American Muslim household. Assertive, organized Zara and rambunctious 7-year-old Zayd live with their Mama and Baba; the siblings’ grandparents and uncle are integral parts of their daily lives. Zara and Zayd enjoy playing outside with their friends—Black sisters Jade and Gloria, White Alan, and Chinese American Melvin. Mr. Chapman always said that Zara knew how to “rule with grace and fairness,” but new arrivals Naomi and Michael, Jewish kids who are eager to engage socially, put this to the test. When Jamal Mamoo, Mama’s brother, brings over his Guinness World Records book, Zara decides that becoming a world-record holder is the boost her social status needs. Her humorous (and futile) attempts to make her mark ultimately lead her to being a more patient and understanding big sister and more flexible and supportive companion to friends old and new. Strong pacing, fluid prose, engaging hijinks, and heartwarming scenes of family life and outdoor play are complemented by expressive illustrations.
A charming contemporary story with a classic feel. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: April 19, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5344-9759-7
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
A gorgeous, heartwarming reminder of the transformative power of collaboration.
A lost Buddha statue’s eternal smile brings a community together.
“Nobody saw him,” this toppled-over Little Stone Buddha, trapped under garbage dumped between two tall buildings. Though all he can see is the sky, his smile remains. Busy feet “thrump-bump-shuffle-shuffle” past him until a small girl stops to whisper hello. Despite her mother’s protestations, she rights the Buddha and places him atop some discarded wood. His smile inspires a passerby to pick up nearby empty cans, then a group of boys to haul away some of the junk. A woman leaves flowers; a couple shelter him with an umbrella. Small acts of kindness multiply until the community transforms the Buddha’s surroundings into a vibrant haven, welcoming all. Caldecott Honor and Newbery Honor–winning Lin blends warmly matter-of-fact prose with a masterful sense of composition; she opens her picture book in muted spreads, heavy with drab colors, her narrative set in motion even before the title page as a bag-laden bicyclist inadvertently drops the statue into the accumulated garbage heaps. Each act of kindness contributes further vibrancy until the later spreads burst with inviting brightness. Lin’s author’s note (with colorful photographs!) reveals the tale’s origins: She drew inspiration from a favorite childhood book—Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House—intertwining it with the true story of a Buddha statue that similarly transformed a community in Oakland, California. Her characters gloriously reflect the city’s diversity.
A gorgeous, heartwarming reminder of the transformative power of collaboration. (Picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9780316478403
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Alvina Ling Books/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
