1001 Inventions & Awesome Facts From Muslim Civilization

1001-inventions

Author: National Geographic

Chief Editor : Professor Salim Al-Hassani

Publisher : National Geographic Children’s Books

Summary: We often think that people from a thousand years ago were living in the Dark Ages. But from the 7th century onward in Muslim civilization there were amazing advances and inventions that still influence our everyday lives. People living in the Muslim world saw what the Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Greek, and Romans had discovered and spent the next one thousand years adding new developments and ideas. Inventors created marvels like the elephant water clock, explorers drew detailed maps of the world, women made scientific breakthroughs and founded universities, architects built huge domes larger than anywhere else on earth, astronomers mapped the stars and so much more! This book takes the wining formula of facts, photos, and fun, and applies it to this companion book to the 1001 Inventions exhibit from the Foundation for Science, Technology, and Civilization. Each page is packed with information on this little-known history, but also shows how it still applies to our world today.

Our thoughts: 1001 Inventions and Awesome Facts from Muslim Civilization (National Geographic Kids) is a very concise account of the Muslim civilization thousands of years ago to today’s world. Many harmless things you would classify as bidat because it’s widely done by non-Muslims these days actually came from the Muslim world. It’s a must read. The contribution of Muslim minds and scientists is palpable in almost every field today from surgery to agriculture, from cosmetics to fashion, from entertainment to optics to warfare, you name it! It’s truly revolutionary.

Our Rating: 5/5

Jazak’Allah khair for reading,

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

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Hind’s Hands – A Review

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Authors : Umm Juwayriyah and Juwayriyah Ayed

Illustrator : Emma Apple

Publisher : As Sabr Publications

What to expect: A patient family dealing with a member who has a challenging disability

Summary: From bestselling author and educator Umm Juwayriyah — a story told by a big sister who learns coping skills to befriend and lead her autistic younger sister. “You see, my sister Hind has Autism. And I know that sounds like a really big word, but it’s not. Autism just means that Allah made her to learn and act and think differently than other kids her age.” In the story Hind’s Hands, big sister Juwayriyah learns just how special her younger sister is, despite the challenging behaviors that she often has to deal with. Author Umm Juwayriyah collaborates with her oldest daughter, Juwayriyah Ayed on this book to help spread awareness about Autism.

Our Thoughts: It’s a challenge to have children with a disability and this book gives an Islamic perspective to Muslim families to go about it. Juwayriyah learns to deal with her sister’s disability with a lot a patience. Kudos to her.

Our Rating : 5/5

Jazak’Allah khair for reading,

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

Jannah Jewels – Book 2 Review

 

jannah-jewels-2Author:  Umm Nura

Illustrator : Nayzak Al-Hilali

Publisher : Gentle Breeze Books

What to expect: Strong Muslim Girls, Packed Action, Adventure, and Lost Islamic History

Summary: In the second book of the Jannah Jewels Series, the girls are caught and thrown aboard the ship of Zheng He, the famous Chinese Muslim Admiral. Caught in a lightning thunderstorm, they must sail in raging waters to retrieve a rare medicine plant. Can the Jannah Jewels escape the fiery arrows of pirates and make it safely back home?

Our thoughts: This one is also a page turner and the Jannah Jewels meet their antagonist finally; Jaffar. The Chase in China is very exciting and the girls grow to be even more fierce. Jaffar shows himself to be rash, impatient, ill-tempered, and a bully. But the girls are up to the challenge.

Look out for book 3’s review in the series insha’Allah.

Our Rating: 4/5

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

The Princess and the Good Deed – A Review

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Authors:  Umm Juwayriyah & Juwayriyah Ayed

Illustrator : F.A.Ibrahim

Publisher : As Sabr Publications

What to expect: ‘an original Islamic fairy tale of kindness, friendship, and animal rights!’

Our Thoughts: The Princess and the Good Deed is a lovely book about being charitable and expecting our rewards from the Creator. It will teach children to have manners, to be charitable toward humans, animals, and the environment. It also gives a good sense of community involvement. In all, it also shows the elegance of Princess Juwayriyah.

Our Rating : 4/5

Buy on Amazon here.

 

Jazak’Allah khair for reading,

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

Jannah Jewels – Book 1 Review

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Author:  Umm Nura

Illustrator : Nayzak Al-Hilali

Publisher : Gentle Breeze Books

What to expect: Strong Muslim Girls, Packed Action, Adventure, and Lost Islamic History

Summary: The Jannah Jewels land in the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali. Suddenly, they are caught in the middle of a mystery. Someone has stolen a priceless manuscript! While following clues, they find the Grand Mosque and discover the Treasure King. Who exactly is the Treasure King and can the Jannah Jewels restore the missing manuscript into a Golden Clock before time runs out?

Our thoughts: The Treasure of Timbuktu is a page turner that entertains readers (young and old) as it sheds lost Islamic history with them.

The main characters include Hidayah, Jaide, Iman, and Sara.

Hidayah can be called the lead of the group. She has good vision and a strong sense of spirituality that helps her guide the Jannah Jewels. Hidayah is a skilled archer too. I love that because I did some archery in college.

Jaide is the artist of group. She is a racer and has a skateboard. Jaide like me loves to eat. She is always hungry!

Iman is the walking encyclopedia and also resonated with me. I love her style too; it’s similar to mine with long cardigans and long flowing skirts. I wear glasses when I’m not wearing contact lenses ; ).

Finally, Sara is the environmentalist of the group. She is also a great swimmer. I loved that she is green. Recycling is a big part of my life alhamdullilah.

So all the characters resonated with me and the fact that their deen empowers them to solve mysteries is amazing. There is this idea that in fiction it’s okay to have characters have some mysterious power we don’t know the source of. And that’s ‘okay’ to believe that as long as it’s unknown. Then it’s ‘cool’. But when the source is clearly stated like it comes from Allah and His might allows us to reach more than our full potential, then such powers become scary and even preachy. It’s even considered utterly unbelievable when as believers we know the power of dua.

Anyways, I didn’t find the religious inclusions preachy at all and enjoyed reading the resourcefulness of these four brave characters.

Look out for the reviews of the next eight books in the series insha’Allah.

Our Rating: 4/5

Jazak’Allah khair for reading,

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

The Beauty of My Hijab

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Author and Illustrator:  Fatimah Ashaela Moore Ibrahim

Publisher : Aakifah Multimedia and Mindworks Publishing

What to expect: A poetic empowering message

Summary: This is a special book that shows the beauty of covering by drawing comparisons to things that are cherished and valued all around us, especially in nature. Girls see how they are valued, cherished, protected and beautiful through the fluid poetic verses and captivating illustrations. This book is a must have for all Muslim girls and is also a great learning and teaching tool for people of all faiths and creeds. For girls of all ages.

Our Thoughts: We’ve read many books on the rewards and benefits of wearing hijab. Some were cliche in the way they presented hijab to the young mumina. This one was different. Even though it used elements of nature to pass the message, we didn’t feel the objectification tasteless. It was empowering, classy, and very smooth. The drawings and the colors are also very beautiful. I have a direct niece and insha’Allah, she will get my copy. You can get yours here on Amazon.

Our rating: 5/5

Jazak’Allah khair for reading,

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

 

 

Raising Young Muslims : Do You Have The Books It Takes?

Bismillah, Raising young muminun is a daunting task. While we need secular books to help with this job, it’s imperative that these young believers are also taught using books that depict sunnah manners. It’s also important that they read books with characters that look like them and have the same faith as them so that……

via Raising Young Muslims : Do You Have The Books It Takes? — Hayati Magazine

Bismillah Little Leyla – A Review

Bismillah,

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Author: Qura Abid  is a second generation Muslim-American, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and a mother of an incredible energetic toddler. Read more about her here.

Illustrator: Mona Ismail

Publisher: Prolance

Summary: Mommy and daddy are so proud! Little Leyla knows so much now. Join Leyla as she goes through her day and scores big goals! Leyla knows we start everything with Bismillah to show that we know Allah is watching and waiting to help. Leyla knows and we should know too, Say Bismillah and Allah will always help you!

Bismillah Little Leyla is the second children’s book that I came across which teaches young Muslim children the benefits and rewards of praising the Creator before we start anything.

Leyla turns out to be a happy young Muslim girl. She is also outgoing and playful. In all that, she remembers her parents’ advice to utter ‘Bismillah’ when she wakes up, before she eats, and/or performs other activities during the day.

I liked the soft colors and the simple texts. I also liked the fact that Leyla feels empowered by saying ‘Bismillah’. Insha’Allah, other Muslim children will feel that way too after reading this book.

 

Below is a sneak page : 

sneak-page-little-leyla

You can buy your copy at Prolance.com or at Amazon.com by clicking on the hyperlinked texts.

Rating : 4/5

~I received a free copy for the purpose of this review.~

Thank you for reading,

~A Ducktrinor Mom~

What Am I ? – FREE For Five Days

front-cover-what-am-i-01-31-2017-amazon-ebook

Assalamu aleikum,

My first children’s book‘What Am I?’ is out! Alhamdullilah.

The direct link is https://www.amazon.com/What-Am-Race-Are-Book-ebook/dp/B01N39Z3X4

– Click to buy at no cost to you with ‘1 click’ once on Amazon.

The paperback on the other hand is not free so make sure you pick eBook for a freebie.

**Based on numerous authentic ahadith saying that it is forbidden to draw animate beings, the characters in ‘What Am I?’ are faceless.**

– If you live in a country or zone where the title is not available, please change your address to a USA address and your country to USA. Then, you can download the story. When you are done, you can change your address back to your actual address.

– If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download the app for your device.

  • You can read here on amazon’s cloud here

– Please tell a friend!

Jazak’Allah khair for peaking here and supporting the work. Please leave a review.

Papatia Feauxzar