24 #BlackHistoryMonth Black and Muslim Children’s Books {Resource}

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 | acraftyarab

This list of 24 children’s books was created to celebrate Black Muslim authors and protagonist for February’s Black History Month.

The Pew Research Center estimates the total populations of Muslims in the United States at 2.35 million, with Black/African-American Muslims making up 20% of that population. Some have ancestral ties as turn of the century slaves stolen from West/Central Africa, or others have converted in the recent centuries.

In American history, Malcolm X is considered the first person to start the movement among African Americans towards mainstream Islam, after he made the pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.

I’ve already compiled a list of Malcolm X books, so I thought I’d gather a list of other books written about and/or by Black Muslims in America, for children.

This blog post is part of the fifth annual Black History Month Blog Hop from Multicultural Kids Blog. This event brings together various blogs from around the world to explore the rich history and cultures of Africa and the African diaspora.

Please visit the other blogs at the bottom of this post for more educational posts about this important month in our calendar.

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Nanni’s Hijab by Khadijah Abdul-Haqq

Adam To Zamzam And Fun In The Sun by Jamila Alqarnain & Karimah Alhark

Fun in the Sun by Jamila Alqarnain & Karimah Alhark

Hind’s Hands: A Story about Autism by Jamila Alqarnain & Karimah Alhark

Princess And The Good Deed, The by Jamila Alqarnain & Karimah Alhark

Rasheed’s Deeds by Jamila Alqarnain & Karimah Alhark

Yak in the Back by Jamila Alqarnain & Karimah Alhark

Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin

Hannah Habibi Learns About Modesty by Janette Grant

Sameerah’s Hijab: and the first day of school by Janette Grant

Beauty Of My Hijab by Fatimah Ashaela Moore Ibrahim

Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family, The by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Bashirah and The Amazing Bean Pie Ameenah Muhammad-Diggins

Ngozi’s Little Brown Princess Tea Party by Asiyah Muhsin-Thomas

Sadiq and the Desert Star by Nuurali. Siman

Little Brother for Sale by Rahma Rodaah

Muhiima’s Quest by Rahma Rodaah,

Wahid and His Special Friend by Robyn Saleem-Abdusamad

You Are Beautiful by Robyn Saleem-Abdusamad

Zaynab’s Enchanted Scarf Robyn Saleem-Abdusamad

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Malcolm Little by Ilyasah Shabazz

Silly Monkey by Rhoda Sye

Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

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Welcome to our fifth annual Black History Month Blog Hop, where together we explore the rich history and cultures of Africa and the African diaspora.

You can also follow our Black History board on Pinterest:

Participating Blogs
Creative World of Varya on Multicultural Kid Blogs 24 #BlackHistoryMonth Black and Muslim Children Books {Resource} on A Crafty Arab The Mommy Factor Growing Up Gupta Great Family Reads Mommy Evolution GUBlife Embracing Diversity Crafty Moms Share

Arabic Valentine’s Day Cards {Printable}

February 12, 2019February 13, 2019 | acraftyarab

Valentine’s Day is this Friday. It is a day to celebrate romance in many regions around the world and slowly starting to make it’s way into the Arab culture.

Children, where I currently live, give each other miniature Valentine’s Day cards in school, often attached to candy. Sometimes they build little mailboxes to collect these mini cards on their school desks.

This year, due to the severe snow storm that has hit our area, my daughters will not be at school. I decided to make them the mini cards so they could exchange them with neighborhood friends.

Of course, I had to add an Arabic twist. Each card has a little bit of fun with the alphabet. I used the same letters from my Arabic Parents Guide.

You can download them for free here.

Check out other fun holiday downloads on A Crafty Arab Printables board.

#IqraChat The Map of Salt and Stars {Resource}

February 7, 2019February 19, 2019 | acraftyarab

Reading Arab American literature is an important part of my life, as it helps expand my knowledge of my culture and history.

I recently read the book The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn (Jennifer Zeynab) Joukhadar to help me better understand the Syrian refugee experience.

This book moved me in ways that no book has done in a long time.

First, the journey involves not one but two young female protagonist, fighting odds well beyond their years.
Second, the chapters, for each country entered, include poems by the author that are beautiful and could stand on their own in a chapbook. I found myself reading them over and over again, often out loud.
Third, the assault scene was difficult to read, but I don’t believe our society discusses it in the open enough. Reading it brought back painful memories but opened up dialogue that was long overdue with my own teens.

I contacted the author and asked him if I could do a Twitter and Facebook chat online to discuss the book with others. A sort of book club, but not just in my living room or at a local restaurant, but one that anyone that wants to can join in.

Between now and February 26th, read or listen to the book, then join us on ACraftyArab Facebook or ACraftyArab Twitter where you’ll answer the following questions in time sessions (subject to adjustment):

8PM: What does the title The Map of Salt and Stars mean to you?
8:10PM: How do the two different timelines influence the plot?
8:20PM: Did having Nour as the narrator change the way you viewed the events of the novel?
8:30PM: How do the characters rely on their religion throughout the novel?
8:40PM: How is The Map of Salt and Stars like or different than other novels you have read about refugees?
8:50PM: What is the significance of the stone and why was it discarded by Nour?

To help find each other on Twitter and Facebook, we’ll all be using the hashtag #IqraChat and ##MapofSaltandStars. (Iqra is the Arabic word for Read.)

Please be sure to join us on February 26th at 8pm EST to talk about this riveting book.