My Kufi by Adil Ismaeel

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚 Title: My Kufi Author: Adil Ismaeel Illustrator: Yaqiyn Abdul-Zahir Publisher: Self-published Type: Fiction Age: 4-11 Rating: 8/10 🌟 ⭐ Islamic Content: Islamic attire, Muslim identity ⭐ Concerns: None ⭐ Summary: When Jaysh is at the supermarket, he notices a Muslim girl with a hijab, however, he is disappointed and confused why she didn't speak to him. When he tells his mother she asked him 'how do you know that she is Muslim?' Jaysh responds, because 'she was wearing a khimar just like you.' She then challenges him by asking 'how would she know that you are Muslim?' This prompted Jaysh to think about what can make him visibly Muslim. His mother reminds him of a kufi he has at home and suggested wearing that instead of his hat. However, he doesn't like that particular one so Jaysh and his dad head to the Islamic shop to find his own perfect kufi. As soon as Jaysh lays his eyes on it, he immediately knows this is the one just for him. The next day, Jaysh proudly wore his kufi and headed out. ⭐ Review: There are many wonderful hijab books to choose from when we want to highlight our Muslim identity in our kids. This is the first I have read that centers around this particular clothing article that is specific to boys. Which is why it makes this book so unique. Jaysh hadn't thought about his Muslim identity being visibly presented and that could be the case with many boys. I truly love the scene of Jaysh and his father having a kufi discussion. His father highlights that there different types, from different parts of the world. When he finds his perfect kufi, he wears it out to the playground without shying away. At the playground he is confident and corrects another boy by telling him that it is a kufi and not a beanie, and he wears it because he is Muslim. It is beautiful to see how Jaysh has grown to embrace his Muslim identity through his outerwear. One of the things I love seeing in kids' picture books is that the protagonist shows and promotes critical thinking and is able to successfully solve his dilemma. Although Jaysh did that in the playground, I wish he was doing some critical thinking on his own when he was conversing with his mother about the supermarket incident instead of his mother directly prompting him by asking what he has on his head. I appreciate the large print on this book to help young readers but also can be easily used for group readings. The book also includes a full page of terms and their definitions. I absolutely recommend this one-of-a-kind book. ⭐ Available: @mykufibook #mykufi #adilismaeel #muslimkidsbooks #islamickidsbooks #muslimauthor #muslimkidslit #raisingmuslimreaders

Mar 22/2020