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English Literature K-12

Motivating students to engage with literature can be challenging, especially when the stories shared are often exclusively centred around the majority community of European ancestry. While curriculum diversification is continuously stressed as an essential step toward promoting and celebrating diversity in our classrooms, it is a time-consuming process unfeasible for many educators.

The following is a list of recommended readings following Muslim protagonists’ lives in real and mythological environments, solving mysteries and changing the world. From picture books to novels , the following list highlights the growing genre of Muslim heroes.

K-3 Story/Picture Books

  • The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023).
  • Adam’s First Fast by Amaan Ishaq (Amaan Ishaq, 2022).
  • Arab Arab All Year Long by Cathy Camper, Sawsan Chalabi (Candlewick, 2022).Fatima Al Fihri: Chronicles of Great Muslim Women Vol.1 (Amaliina Productions, 2022).
  • Hassan and Aneesa Go to A Nikkah by Rahim Yasmeen and Azzouz Rakiaya (Kube Publishing, 2022).
  • My First Book About Hajj by Khan Sara and Lodge Ali (Kube Publishing, 2022).
  • One Wish by Fatima al-Fihri (HarperCollins, 2022).
  • One Sun and Countless Stars: A Muslim Book of Numbers by Hena Khan and Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle Books, 2022).
  • The Call to Hajj by Sawah Isaacs-Johaadien and Karen Tuba (Tughra Books, 2022).
  • The Journey of the Midnight Sun by Shazia Afzal and Aliya Ghare (Orca Book Publishers, 2022).
  • Current Moons and Pointed Minerals by Hena Khan and Mehrdokht (Chronicle Books, 2021).
  • Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Azziz and Parwinder Singh (Little Bee Books, 2021).
  • In My Mosque by M. O. Yuksel (HarperCollins, 2021).
  • My First Iqra by Azizah Orin (Kube Publishing, 2021).
  • Environmental Sunnahs by Alia G. Dada (Prolance, 2020).
  • Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan and Saffa Khan (Chronicle Books, 2020).
  • The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil (Tilbury, 2020).
  • Migo and Ali – A-Z of Islam by Zanib Mian (Muslim Children’s Books UK, 2019).
  • My Friends Eat Pork: What About Me? by Bachar Karrou (Bachar Karroum, 2019).
  • The Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin and Lidsey Yankey (Candlewick, 2019).
  • The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by S.K. Ali (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2019).
  • Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and Aaliya Jaleel (Lee & Low Books, 2019).
  • Who believes what? By Anna Wills and Nora Tomm (Owlkids, 2018).
  • Allah Made Us All Different: Be Yourself by Rabia Gelgi (CreateSpace, 2017).
  • The Treasure Hunt of the Prophet Stories by Nisa Suripto (CreateSpace, 2017).
  • Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story (Tilbury, 2015).
  • Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan and Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle Books, 2012).
  • Yasmin Series by Saadia Faruqi and Hatem Aly (Capstone).

Grade 4-6 English Literature

  • Zara’s Rules by Hena Khan and Wastana Haikal (Salaam Reads, 2023).
  • Maryam Bakes a Cake by Aliza Syeda (2022).
  • The Wonders We Seek by Saadia Faruqi, Saffa Khan, and Aneesa Mumtaz (Quill Tree Books, 2022).
  • Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza (Quill Tree Books, 2021).
  • Amazing Muslims who changed the world by Burhana Islam (Penguin UK, 2021)
  • Amina’s Song by Hena Khan (Salaam Reads, 2021).
  • Huda F Are You? By Huda Fahmy (Dial Books, 2021).
  • Piece by piece: The story of Misrim’s hijab by Priya Huq (Harry N. Abrams, 2021).
  • Stories of 20 Mighty Muslim Heroes by Tamara Haque (2021).
  • A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi (Quill Tree Books, 2020).
  • Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson (Jimmy Patterson, 2020).
  • Grandpa Ali and Friends by Yasin Osman (2020).
  • That Can Be Arranged by Huda Fahmy (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020).
  • The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (Page Street Publishing, 2020).
  • The Lemon Tree (Young Reader’s Edition) by Sandy Tolan (Bloomsbury, 2020).
  • Zayed Saleem Series by Hena Khan and Sally Wern Comport (Salaam Reads, 2020).
  • Jannah Jewels Series by N. Rafiq (Gentle Breeze Books, 2019).
  • Muslim Girls Rise by Saira Mir and Aaliya Jaleel (Salaam Reads, 2019).
  • Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian (G. P. Putnam’s sons, 2019).
  • The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkey (Little Brown Books for Young Children, 2015).
  • 1001 Inventions and Awesome Facts from Muslim Civilization by National Geographic (National Geographic Kids, 2012).
  • Jannah Jewels: The Treasure of Timbuktu by N. Raffia (Gentle Breeze Books, 2010).
  • Introducing Islam: A Graphic Guide by Ziauddin Sardar and Zafar Abbas Malik (Icon Books, 2005).

K-6 Story/Picture RAMADAN & EID Books

  • Let’s Learn More About Eid-al-Adha: Educational Islamic Book (2021)
  • My First Book About Ramadan by Khan Sara and Alison Lodge (Kube Publishing Ltd, 2021).
  • 10 Du’as of Ramadan by Firhana Imam (Gator Ali, 2021).
  • A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi (Clarion Books, 2020).
  • Ramadan by Lori Dittmer (Creative Paperbacks, 2020).
  • Once upon an Eid: Stories of hope and joy by 15 Muslim voices by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed (Amulet Books, 2020).
  • R is for Ramadan by Greg Paporocki (BabyLit, 2019).
  • The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard and Laura K. Horton (Albert Whitman & Company, 2019).
  • Hassan and Aneesa Celebrate Eid by Yasmeen Rahim and Omar Burgess (The Islamic Foundation, 2018).
  • Ramadan Around the Worldby Ndaa Hassan (2018).
  • Ramadan by Hannah Eliot and Rashin Kheiriyeh (Little Simon, 2018).
  • It’s Ramadan, Curious George by H. A. Rey and Hena Khan (Clarion Books, 2016).
  • Ramadan Moon (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2015).
  • Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan (Chronicle Books, 2008).
  • It’s the night before Eid by Yasmin Rashidi

Grades 7-12 English Literature Books

  • All My Rage: A Novel by Sabaa Tahir (Razorbill, 2022).
  • Courage: My Story of Persecution by Freshta Tori Jan (Norton Young Readers, 2022).
  • Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022).
  • You truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen (Injyard Press, 2022).
  • Accused: My story of injustice by Adama Bah (WW Norton, 2021).
  • Amira and Hamza: The War to Save the world by Samira Ahmed (Little, Brown Books for Young Children, 2021).
  • Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui (Scholastic Press, 2021).
  • Hana Khan Carries on by Uzma Jalaluddin (HarperAvenue, 2021).
  • Marvel: Game Over by Kamala Khan (Outreach, 2021).
  • My name is a song by Sabina Khan (Scholastic Press, 2021).
  • The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood (Doubleday, 2021).
  • Unsettled by Reem Faruqi (HarperCollins, 2021).
  • Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi (Quill Tree Books, 2021).
  • Amal Undount by Aisha Saeed (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020).
  • A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi (Quill Tree Books, 2020).
  • The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah (WW Norton, 2020).
  • The Cat I Never Named by Amra Sabic El-Rayess (Bloomsbury, 2020).
  • Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (Balzer & Bray, 2019).
  • I Am the Night Sky & Other Reflections by Muslim American Youth (Shout Mouse Press, 2019).
  • Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin (Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2018).
  • Power forward: Chasing the dream by Hena Khan and Sally Wern Comport (Salaams, 2018).
  • The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Scholastic Press, 2017).
  • Hamza Abdullah: Come Follow Me: A Memoir. The NFL. A Transition. A Challenge. A Change by Hamza Abdullah (Abdullah Bros Books, 2016).
  • The Green Bicycle by Haidaa Al Mansour (Puffin Books, 2016).
  • The Istanbul Intrigue by Ayeesha Dean (Melby Rose Publishing, 2016).
  • I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Little, Brown and Company, 2013).
  • The Favoured Daughter by Fawzia Koofi (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2013).
  • The House of ibn Kathir Series by S.N. Jalali (Blackstones House Publications, 2013).
  • Bifocal by Deborah Ellis (Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2007).
  • The Autobiography of Malcom X by Alex Haley (Ballantine Books, 1987).

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