RTL: Zero

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: Zero
Author: Kathryn Otoshi
Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Fiction

Book Format: Hard Cover

Age Group: 4 years and older

Book Review: From Amazon.com: Zero is a big round number. When she looks at herself, she just sees a hole right in her center. Every day she watches the other numbers line up to count: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 . . . !" "Those numbers have value. That's why they count," she thinks. But how could a number worth nothing become something? Zero feels empty inside. She watches One having fun with the other numbers. One has bold strokes and squared corners. Zero is big and round with no corners at all. "If I were like One, then I can count too," she thinks. So she pushes and pulls, stretches and straightens, forces and flattens herself, but in the end she realizes that she can only be Zero. As budding young readers learn about numbers and counting, they are also introduced to accepting different body types, developing social skills and character, and learning what it means to find value in yourself and in others.

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: One

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: One

Author: Kathryn Otoshi
Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Fiction

Book Format: Hard Cover

Age Group: 4 years and older

Book Review: One by Kathryn Otoshi has a subtle and important message. In this story, children not only learn about colours and numbers, they also explore the problem of bullying. 

Blue is a shy, calm colour and Red is a hot-head who bullies him. The other colours know that Red bullies Blue and while they do not agree with it, they say and do nothing. Soon Red has not only gotten bigger but he is bullying all of the colours and everyone is afraid of him. Until One comes along. Red tries to bully One also but One doesn't allow it and he stands up to Red's bullying. The other colours see how One stands up to Red and they gain the confidence to do the same. Soon, all of the colours stand up to Red and he is disempowered. Red becomes small and starts to slink away. But the other colours invite Red to come back and to join them and all of the colours end up working together. The story ends with a subtle but important message that One person can make a difference.

As much as we may wish this topic was one that did not need attention, that is simply not the case. Bullying is an issue that cannot be ignored and this book, One, is helpful when discussing this topic with children. You can use the ayaat from the Qur'aan and the authentic ahadith about good treatment, good manners, and wanting for your brother what you want for yourself, and then end your unit with this book as a read aloud. Insha'Allaah, the concept of respecting others will not only be understood, but more importantly it will be implemented insha'Allaah. May Allaah guide us and our offspring to righteous behaviour that pleases Him and may He make us of those who follow the best example of His Final Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam).

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry

Author: Edited by J. Patrick Lewis
Islamically Appropriate?: No

Genre: Non-Fiction

Book Format: Collection of Poetry

Age Group: 4 years and older

Book Review: This book is a collection of poetry about animals. The poems range from serious, funny, playful or thoughtful and some of the poems are very well written, unfortunately, many of the poems are Islamically inappropriate (for example asserting that humans and apes are related...astagfirullaah).

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

 

A New House for Mouse

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
 

Book Title: A New House for Mouse
Author: Petr Horacek
Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 3 years and older

Book Review: From Amazon.com: Mouse is little and so is her house - but her apple is huge. She needs to find a home that is big enough for the both of them. But as she visits all sorts of other creatures to see if she can share their homes, her apple shrinks and shrinks - she's been nibbling it away! Peep through the holes and join Mouse in her search for a new home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

 

RTL: Don't Worry Bear

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: Don't Worry Bear
Author: Greg Foley

Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 3 years and older

Book Review: It's time for Bear's friend Caterpillar to spin his cocoon. Bear won't see Caterpillar for a while and Bear is worried. Will Caterpillar be okay in there? When will Bear see him again?

Being a good friend, Bear checks on Caterpillar when it rains, when it's awfully windy and when it cold and snowy. Each time, Caterpillar reassures Bear that he is fine and that there is nothing for Bear to worry about but.....Bear is worried.

Mouse manages to help Bear stop worrying when he tells Bear that Caterpillar is just sleeping. Then Bear finds Caterpillar's empty cocoon on the ground one day and he starts worrying all over again.

Bear's worries come to an end when....

I won't spoil it for you but I will suggest that you visit your local library and check out Don't Worry Bear. But here is a hint: there is a beautiful silky moth at the end who helps bring the story to a comfortable satisfying end. 

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: Not a Buzz to Be Found: Insects in Winter

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: Not a Buzz to Be Found
Author: Linda Glaser

Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Non- Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 7 years and older

Book Review:The spring is gone and snow covers the ground. But there is something else that lets us know that winter is here....the air is silent. There are no buzzing or zipping sounds that tell us that insects are flying about.

In this book the author leads children on a wonderful journey of discovery that shows (and tells) what insect do in the winter. Such questions as: "Where do they go?", "What do they eat?", "Where do they sleep?" are answered before the last page of the book is turned. The illustrations support the text very well, showing what is happening above and below ground, and this will help engage children in the story insha'Allaah.

This may be a text you consider using just before winter arrives (or just as it arrives) to help teach children how the environment changes with the seasons by the Will of Allaah.

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: The Gruffalo

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: The Gruffalo
Author: Julia Donaldson

Islamically Appropriate?: No

Genre: Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 5 years and older

Book Review:The Gruffalo is the story of a little mouse that is strolling through a deep dark wood. On his walk the mouse encounters a hungry fox, an owl and a snake - and all of them want to eat him. Without hesitation, the little mouse tells each animal about a terrible creature called a Gruffalo and thus escapes being eaten.

The rhyme and refrain in this story are both well written and would appeal to children. Unfortunately, the premise of the story is based on the mouse lying to get each creature to leave him alone. 

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: Fall Weather, Cooler Temperatures

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: Fall Weather: Cooler Temperatures
Author: Martha E.H. Rustad

Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre:Non-Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 5 years and older

Book Review: In this nicely illustrated non-fiction picture book children learn about how humans and animals prepare for the Autumn (Fall) weather. They also learn how the weather changes in the Fall and some of the signs Allaah has given us to know that Autumn is on the way.

The book (and others in this series but not all are Islaamically appropriate) fit easily into the curriculum and they are well organized. The presentation of the text is especially helpful for introducing children how to read non-fiction text. The book has a table of contents, a glossary, an index and a page that lists additional resources on the topic.

Fall Weather: Cooler Temperatures can be used to help children begin to recognize how non-fiction and fiction differ and how we approach and interact with each in a unique way. Another appealing aspect of this book (and others in the series) is that the illustrations are kid-friendly and engaging. This helps keep the children's interest on the text and the information insha'Allaah. At the end of the book there is a small activity that children can complete as well.

As you begin your curriculum planning for next year, you may wish to add Fall Weather: Cooler Temperatures to your list of books to purchase for your home or classroom library insha'Allaah.

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

RTL: Dig Hole, Soft Mole

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Book Title: Dig Hole, Soft Mole
Author: Carolyn Lesser

Islamically Appropriate?: Yes

Genre: Fiction

Book Format: Picture Book

Age Group: 4 years and older

Book Review: Children explore the world of the star-nosed mole in Dig Hole, Soft Mole. They travel with a little mole through the woods, underground, through a tunnel and finally out into a sparkling pond. The illustrations are soft and warm and very inviting and the text only contains one word that would need substitution: ghostly.

From Publishers Weekly: Dense, tactile rhyming couplets and serene paintings transport readers through the twin worlds of the star-nosed mole, which flourishes in water as well as in ground. While Mole may travel nearly blind, readers' eyes will feast on Regan's softly textured, pristinely composed oil and gouache illustrations. Mole visits, variously, a lumpy, purplish-brown tunnel, where spooky bulb roots drape the ceilings ("Starry nose feels and goes./ Hidden ears hear wood frog toes"); murky-blue water, where snails sway on leafy pondweed ("Pulling feet, sculling tail,/ Furry boat without a sail"); daylit marsh with "twiggy domes" and cattails, muskrats and blackbirds; and indigo night, where white water lilies shine and a "ghostly swan" drifts. (Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.).

Until the next read insha'Allaah....

[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....