Our Children’s Books Catalog
Assalamu aleikum,
Please check out our books on Amazon and on our website.
Thank you,
A Ducktrinor Mom
Children Literature
Bilal Cooks Daal — A Review
Summary : Six-year-old Bilal introduces his friends to his favorite dish—daal!—in this charming picture book that showcases the value of patience, teamwork, community, and sharing.
Six-year-old Bilal is excited to help his dad make his favorite food of all-time: daal! The slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia requires lots of ingredients and a whole lot of waiting. Bilal wants to introduce his friends to daal. They’ve never tried it! As the day goes on, the daal continues to simmer, and more kids join Bilal and his family, waiting to try the tasty dish. And as time passes, Bilal begins to wonder: Will his friends like it as much as he does?
This debut picture book by Aisha Saeed, with charming illustrations by Anoosha Syed, uses food as a means of bringing a community together to share in each other’s family traditions.
Author : Aisha Saeed
Illustrator : Anoosha Syed
Publisher: Salaam Reads
Review and thoughts : Bilal Cooks Daal is the third book by the author that I have read where the name Bilal occurs alhamdullilah. She must certainly like the name masha’Allah alhamdullilah. I like that this time it didn’t come unintentionally mis-constructed to me like it did in the first two instances.
Overall, Bilal Cooks Daal is rhythmic, and it teaches children to be patient. It also teaches them colors, smell, taste, and mathematics. This is wonderful all around. The illustrations are also well done. We didn’t find any issue in the book, too. Alhamdullilah.
Find it on Amazon here.
Rating : 5/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
The Proudest Blue — A Review
Assalamu aleikum,
Summary : With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It’s the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it’s her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab–a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.
Authors : Ibtihaj Muhammad & S.K.Ali
Illustrator : Hatem Aly
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Review and thoughts : The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family is a lyrical account of a kind-hearted black Muslim character called Faizah about her older sister’s hijab on the first day of school. Her older sister’s name is Asiya.
Faizah and Asiya are the actual names of Ibtihaj’s sisters. I briefly met the author during eid prayer while visiting my family a couple years ago in New Jersey.
Asiya, her real sister, was actually very friendly to me. Therefore, I like the protagonist in the book because she is based on a real character, alhamdullilah. That day, my son was wearing a blue outfit from head to toes, too. Masha’Allah. After I read it, he picked up the book and mock-read it himself. On the inside flap of the back cover, he spotted his first name in the last names of one of the authors. That puzzled him, and he wondered how his name got on a book. He asked me if I put it there, and I told him, “No.” Hehe. Alhamdullilah.
To continue, The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family shows the unbreakable spirit of a young girl in the face of bullying. She quickly remembers the strong and powerful words of her mom to help her carry on, head high:
Don’t carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They belong to those who said them.
Easily said than done perhaps, but they carry a lot of truth. Some days, it will be easier to overlook the abuse, and other days, it won’t be so easy for sure because of the whispers. But, we must remain steadfast and do us and hope that one day they see the truth. If they don’t see it, oh well, that’s not our problem. It’s theirs.
Furthermore, Hatem Aly’s illustrations are consistent with his previous works I have had the chance to review or read. Plus, I love blue. It’s a color of order, authority and self-respect. Masha’Allah.
Above all, The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family is an empowering read to add to the bookshelf of the Mumeenas you’re raising in your respective homes. It could also help with cultural sensitivity awareness tailored to non-Muslims so that they may not fear the hijab. Or at least, so they may respect other people’s differences.
Rating : 4/5
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
We Have Books for Everyone in Your Family!
Assalamu aleikum!
Yaseen’s Big Dream — A Review
Summary: Yaseen has got some big dreams. He dreams of helping his family, his friends, and his community. But is it really possible for a kid like Yaseen to do all of those things? Of course it is! Read Yaseen’s Big Dream to follow him on an adventure unlike any other.
Author: Umm Juwayriyah
Illustrator: Azra Momin
Formatted by: Reyhana Ismail
Publisher: Djarabi Kitabs Publishing
Review: The first thing that crossed my mind after I read the already illustrated and designed Yaseen’s Big Dream by Umm Juwayriyah was, “Yaseen’s Big Dream is a book that will inspire the Muslim Youth.” This is because Yaseen is an inspirational character who is loved, cherished and raised to believe that he can reach beyond the stars! He motivates and entertains the reader with his strong wills.
Additionally, he loves his family and they love him back, he stays busy with extra-curricular activities, he dreams big, has an intact fitra and much, much, much more. Not only will Yaseen inspire the readers, he will push for them to do more for their communities. Though the text is a bit complex for my son’s age, we read it several times. My toddler is at a point of time where he attempts to recap stories to me to show me his storytelling skills alhamdullilah. And that what’s he did with this book. He firmly declared that that he was a boy and that he was Yaseen. Masha’Allah alhamdullilah.
Umm Juwayriyah’s writing style usually respects the protagonist’s voice. Therefore, if the protagonist naturally and culturally speaks informally or formally, the dialogue and mind of the protagonist will show this. On the other hand, if the protagonist is too young to know sentences’ syntax or treat adults a certain way, she portrays this as well. I appreciate her efforts to make her characters real.
Above all, Yaseen’s Big Dream by Umm Juwayriyah is a definite recommended and empowering read for children around the world and especially in minority areas so that they may realize that when things look bleak for them, they have to BELIEVE that they can do anything they put their mind to. In other words, they can decide to be happy and make the change they (and we all) want to see!
Thank you for reading,
~ A Ducktrinor Mom ~
Two Cute Books by Prolance You Need To Have!
Assalamu aleikum!
I have had the chance to read two children’s books recently published by Muslim Book Publisher Prolance, and I’m happy to share my honest thoughts with you. So here we go.
1. Friends of a Different Kind by Nayera Salam
Age Range: 3+
Author: Nayera Salam
Illustrator: Jenny Reynish
Publisher: Prolance
Summary: Chocolate Chum is the luckiest dog in the neighborhood! He not only has many doggy friends but he has many pals of a different kind. Frogs, gnomes, cats and more. Meet them all in this story that teaches kids about inclusivity and diversity. From beginning to end, children and adults will be intrigued by the book’s message, the enchanting creatures, and the vivid imagery. Plus fun activities! Visit http://www.kidsbooksbynayera.com. Read-aloud version available.
Thoughts: I really loved Friends of a Different Kind; from the painting style to the rhymes, it was simply a delight to read. This book will teach children to embrace those who are different from them. The book effortlessly achieves this purpose by showing the reader that the characters are animals and/or interesting creatures which have distinctive features.
If we don’t teach children how things around us are different and that’s the beauty of things, we do them a great disservice. The danger of thinking that a specific kind of anything is the standard needs to be resisted. Well done.
Rating: 5/5
2. Paradise is oh So Nice by Halimah Bashir
Age Range: 3+
Author: Halimah Bashir
Illustrator: Laila Ramadhani Ritonga
Publisher: Prolance
Summary: Ever wonder what Paradise looks like in the eyes of a child? Giant milkshakes, chocolate castles and ice cream mountains are some of the things Manu and Aya can’t wait to experience. Come along on this adventurous journey where brother and sister’s imagination comes to life and whatever they wish for or desire will come true!
Thoughts: Paradise is oh So Nice is a beautifully illustrated book with vivid colors. The book has two versions; a regular one where Allah is mentioned as “God” and an Islamic version where Allah is mentioned as ” الله .”
This is a nice option in case you want to gift the book as a dawah effort. I also loved this book because it aims at raising young mumeens in a fun context and stretches their imagination.
What else can a Muslim mom like me who wants to raise a young Believer ask for? Hehe…
Rating: 5/5
Check out a sneak peek into the book below:
I received free e-Versions in return for my honest thoughts.
Thank you for reading,
~A Ducktrinor Mom~
Bilal and the Big Bully
There is a book with my son’s name on it! Masha’Allah alhamdullilah :).
In August 2017 I introduced my third book, and very first children’s book. I never really intended to write a fiction book, but someone in my Toastmasters club suggested I write a children’s book. I went home and thought about it that day, and in a week I had a rough draft down. I was happy with how the story was developing, so I decided to go ahead with it. Besides, I like a good challenge.
Bilal and the Big Bully is about a boy who is starting at a new school, one in which there happens to be a rather large bully who likes eating a bite of other kids’ lunches. The main character is of a minority background because I wanted to add some diversity to the world of children’s literature.
Furthermore, I figured I would write not just a fun story, but one that could help make…
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Bedtime Sunnahs: Emulating the Prophet one night at a time – A Review
Summary: This rhyming book outlines several nighttime Islamic practices for kids —and even adults— to implement before going to bed. Fostering a love for the Prophet’s Sunnah, as well as teaching children to practice good deeds consistently. Also includes references to associated hadiths, an explanation of Islamic terminology, and additional advanced practices.
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About the Author: Alia G. Dada was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in the Spanish Language. Shortly after, she moved to Cairo, Egypt. After privately studying Arabic she went on to obtain her degree in Islamic Law (Shariah) from the Al-Azhar University. Blessed with a child who has a love for reading, she was inspired to write a book that would help caregivers water the seed of faith and Islamic literacy in the hearts of young Muslims.
The Illustrator: You can read more on Robin Boyer here.
Publisher: Prolance
Review: Bedtime Sunnahs is a colorful, rhyming, and informative children’s book. Young and old can learn something anew on bedtime sunnah practices insha’Allah. It shows and portrays many Muslim families of diverse background. Bedtime Sunnahs is definitely inclusive and a must-have for every Muslim household masha’Allah! I give this free review copy a 5 stars! You can buy it at Prolance here.
Thank you for reading,
~A Ducktrinor Mom~
Childhood Champions (Book I & Book II) – A Review
Assalamu aleikum,
I received these two books depicted above by Muslim Author George Green, and I enjoyed reading them alhamdullilah. I can’t wait for my son to be able to read them for himself one day insha’Allah.
Title: No Ordinary Day
Series: Childhood Champions
Publisher: Echo Books
Author: George Green is a passionate author/ motivational speaker from New York City who inspires with words and his dedication to giving back to the community. He overcame his troubled childhood by leaving the city to attend college at Auburn University. With the love and encouragement of his family, George earned his Bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and Psychology. You can learn more at his website here.
Synopsis: Eight year old Ibrahim and friends win a Quran competition, where the prize sees them scoring tickets to watch an exciting football game after their class is paid a visit by Hakeem Mohammed, a star football player from the California Spartans.Hakeem Mohammed and the California Spartans are in New York City for one of the most anticipated football games of the season. Ibrahim and friends unite with Hakeem in the locker room to meet the team before the big game. Though their meetings with Hakeem were brief, he instilled a life long impression before going on to star in one of the most memorable games in football. This story unfolds in No Ordinary Day, the first book from ‘Childhood Champions’, a new series of stories about a group of Muslim children in New York City and their daily adventures.
Thoughts: While there is a strong Islamic theme woven through this story, it didn’t turn me off. The execution was well done. I’m also happy to see that my son can read this in the future and say, ‘Look! There is an American Muslim authored book with my name in it!’ Masha’Allah well done.
Rating: 5/5
No Ordinary Day is available here on Amazon.
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Title: The Project
Series: Childhood Champions
Publisher: Echo Books
Author: George Green
Synopsis: The Project is the story of Ibrahim and his friends, who are determined to work together as a team to win first prize at their school science fair. However, Yasin decides to make an effort to complete the project alone. This is a story of how much more can be achieved as part of a team than individually and the unexpected rewards that teamwork can deliver. This story unfolds in The Project, the second book from ‘Childhood Champions’, a series of stories about a group of Muslim children in New York City and their daily adventures.
Thoughts: I really like book 2 with the recurring characters of book 1. In this tome, Green makes it clear that it’s about teamwork. Consequently, these childhood champions get to find out that team work wins, always. The author did a good job catering to an often neglected market with buying power. In addition, it’s also about representation. Above all, I applaud the author for doing that most importantly.
Rating: 4/5
The Project is available on Amazon here.
Thank you for reading,
~A Ducktrinor Mom~
Review: Suprise by zaheera jina — Themakeupreviewers
Hello world 🌎 I have another book review, i recieved this book recently (childrens genre) and I instantly loved it! This book is great for children as there is many morals potrayed within, titled Suprise the book ia based around two children who are eager to know what there mothers suprise is. Im not going […]
A Ducktrinor Mom 