A well-illustrated tale that’s suitable for children whose parents seek to encourage their Muslim faith.
This book, intended to “establish an Islāmic foundation for the future generations,” is the fifth in a series about the roles of animals in the Quran, and focuses on the bird Hudhud.
The Prophet Sulayman rules over a large number of people, and has the ability to communicate with animals. One day, he discovers that his messenger bird, Hudhud, is missing. He asks the eagle Kurkus, leader of all birds, to search for him, to no avail. It’s revealed that Hudhud’s in the city of Saba, where the people, led by Queen Bilquis, worship the sun. The bird quickly travels back to Sulayman and tells him the news. The leader is distraught that Bilquis and her people aren’t worshipping Allah, so he sends her a letter, asking her to reconsider. The two rulers test each other, and eventually, Bilquis’ faith in Allah is solidified. Overall, Abidi (Prophet Musa & the Serpent, 2018, etc.) provides an appealing introduction to important events in the Quran. The story is paired with bright, colorful digital illustrations; Sulayman’s face, in particular, is illuminated to denote his holy nature. The end of the book provides questions that caregivers can use to help start conversations with their children about the story and its deeper meaning.
A well-illustrated tale that’s suitable for children whose parents seek to encourage their Muslim faith.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-68312-077-3
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Kisa Kids Publications
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A festive invitation to creative liberation.
A pleasingly tactile exploration of the possibilities inherent in mistakes.
"A torn piece of paper... / is just the beginning!" Spills, folded paper, drips of paint, smudges and smears—they "all can make magic appear." An increasingly complex series of scenarios celebrates random accidents, encouraging artistic experimentation rather than discouragement. The folded-over paper can be a penguin's head; a torn piece of newsprint can turn into a smiling dog with a little application of paint; a hot-chocolate stain can become a bog for a frog. Thanks to a telescoping pop-up, a hole is filled with nearly limitless possibilities. The interactive elements work beautifully with the photo-collaged "mistakes," never overwhelming the intent with showiness. Saltzberg's trademark cartoon animals provide a sweetly childlike counterpoint to the artful scribbles and smears of gloppy paint.
A festive invitation to creative liberation. (Pop-up. 4-12)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7611-5728-1
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Workman
Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2010
An inspirational look at one girl’s quest to make sure that all skin tones are visible and available in the classroom.
A Black girl’s simple observation propels her into activism.
Woodard, who launched the More Than Peach Project—which arranges for classrooms and children in need to receive kits that include art supplies and boxes of multicultural crayons (crayons in a variety of skin tones)—relates the incident that sparked her journey. As the book begins, she is dropped off at school and notices that her family’s skin tone differs from that of her classmates. While it is clear that she is one of a few children of color at school, that difference isn’t really felt until her friends start asking for the “skin-color” crayon when they mean peach. She’s bothered that no one else seems to notice that skin comes in many colors, so she devises a unique way of bringing everyone’s attention to that fact. With support from her family and her school, she encourages her fellow classmates to rethink their language and starts an initiative to ensure that everyone’s skin tone is represented in each crayon box. Appealing, realistic artwork depicts Woodard’s experiences, while endpapers feature More Than Peach crayon boxes and childlike illustrations of kids of different ethnicities doing various activities. The story is stirring and will motivate budding activists. (This book was reviewed digitally; the review has been updated for factual accuracy.)
An inspirational look at one girl’s quest to make sure that all skin tones are visible and available in the classroom. (note from Woodard, information on Woodard’s journey into activism, instructions on starting a drive) (Picture-book biography. 6-10)Pub Date: July 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-80927-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
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