Storytime: Library Lion

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

With the first read you and your students/children may find that you really like and enjoy this book. As a teacher/parent-teacher, you may find yourself suddenly in your local bookstore purchasing  Library Lion to add to your personal collection of favourite picture books.

In Library Lion, readers meet a lion who casually walks into a public library just as if he belongs there and is simply returning from a morning stroll. Confident that he belongs there, he purposefully walks past the circulation desk without a glance. He peruses the card catalog, and then settles down in the storytime area for a nap. He awakes to the story time lady beginning a story. He is attentive and stays for the next two storytimes later in the day.

And what do the library patrons make of this library lion? They come to love him.

The librarian, a woman who is particular about rules being followed in the library, also has no problem with the lion being there....as long as he does not break any of the rules. And he doesn't...until.......

he has to help a friend who has been hurt.

I won't tell you anymore. I do not wish to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, the story is: warm, delightful, and touching. And the illustrations: just the right style for this story. A wonderful fit.

The school year is not yet done and insha'Allaah, there is another to come. Consider adding Library Lion to your classroom library.

[Cross Post]: A Butterfly Is Patient

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: A Butterfly Is Patient 

Author: Dianna Hutts Aston

Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Non-Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 5 years and older

Book Review: This is another non-fiction book that may rapidly capture the attention and imaginations of your students/children. A Butterfly Is Patient is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces children to the life of butterflies. When the book is opened, children are treated to a full spread layout of various caterpillars that will, by the Permission of Allaah, one day become stunning, brilliantly coloured, beautiful butterflies. Page by delicately illustrated page, the author and illustrator teach children about butterflies in a fascinating manner.

Interesting facts for each butterfly are provided but the author only gives enough material to acquaint and to teach but not so much that the amount of information might overwhelm a child. The illustrations alone may hold a child's attention for many long minutes as they take in the gorgeous detail captured in each picture. 

For your classroom library or home library, A Butterfly Is Patient is book that as a teacher or parent-teacher, you may consider adding to your shelf.  

*Note*: The page that teaches about the Monarch butterfly requires one alteration when reading it aloud. You will have to replace the word 'magical' with an Islaamically appropriate word such as: awe-inspiring, stunning, breathtaking, etc.

To see a 13 page preview of this beautiful book click here insha'Allaah.

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth
Author: Nicola Davies

Islamically Appropriate?: No

Genre: Non-Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 8 years and older

Book Review: Author Nicola Davies provides a plethora of factual information about different kinds of animals that are able to survive in harsh and seemingly unbearable conditions. Unfortunately, in this book, there are several pictures and statements that are Islamically inappropriate and are completely contrary to haya (shyness). It is also not recommended for teachers/parent-teachers to use to this book to obtain information on different animals. Finding a different, more Islaamically appropriate, book on the same topic is advisable.

More reviews on books from this author coming soon insha'Allaah.

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: One Tiny Turtle

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: One Tiny Turtle
Author: Nicola Davies

Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Non-Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 5 years and older

Book Review: Once again, author Nicola Davies teaches children fascinating animal facts through storytelling in a captivating way. This time children learn about the life cycle of loggerhead turtles in One Tiny Turtle. The story follows one tiny loggerhead turtle over a period of roughly thirty years and children learn interesting facts about this sea creature that scientists know little about. The illustrations help bring life to the story of the little turtle as the aqua colours radiate warmly on the page.

Only one line of the story needs to be altered when reading aloud to Muslim children. Where the text reads, "Only good luck will catch you a glimpse of her", you may simple choose to omit this sentence altogether or reword it with Islamically appropriate text. Perhaps you might say, "If Allaah wills, you will catch a glimpse of her," or something along these lines.

Another point to be aware of: The books in the Read, Listen & Wonder series come with a CD where children can listen to the story being read aloud. Unfortunately, there is music on the CDs and so the CDs are not able to be put in a listening centre as children may inadvertently listen to the music on them.

One Tiny Turtle is another book that children may find themselves genuinely interested in and teachers/parent-teachers may be happy to have found yet another fascinating non-fiction text to present to their students/children.

More reviews on books from this author coming soon insha'Allaah.

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

Storytime: Bat Loves the Night

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Providing children with non-fiction during storytime is a task that sometimes requires a bit of research on the part of the teacher/parent-teacher. Depending on the age group you are reading to, finding engaging non-fiction is not always easy but alhamdulillaah, it is not impossible.

This book, Bat Loves The Night is a delightful non-fiction book that can be read aloud to toddlers, kindergarteners, and students in grades 1 and 2 insha'Allaah. The author, Nicola Davies, not only manages to skillfully place a large amount of information in the book (as was the case in Surprising Sharks), she also writes in a style that is easy for children to enjoy and comprehend.

Bat Loves The Night is also a book that teachers/parent-teachers may enjoy reading aloud to their students/children for the simple fact that the story is calm but has an air of mystery about it. As you read the story your voice changes, at times being suspenseful and then dropping to become full of intrigue and mystery. The illustrations are beautiful and invite children to appreciate the beauty of bats as they learn factual information about these nocturnal creatures.

Alhamdulillaah, this storytime selection only required one word be omitted from the reading (pixie) because it usually refers to fairies or sprites.


When looking for engaging, eloquent non-fiction for your classroom or homeschool, consider Bat Loves The Night for your collection. You may also wish to have a look at these lesson plans that can be used with Bat Loves the Night:

1. Bats: Preschool Science Lesson (omit the singing part of the lesson plan)
2. Guided Writing Lesson Plan for small group instruction on the topic of bats.
3. Food for Bats: Children make bats and the types of food they eat with modeling clay **Remind children not to make facial features for their bats as this contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet -sallallaahu alayhi wa salam.**

Insha'Allaah more books from this author will be reviewed...check back soon.