When Muslim children pick up a book at the local library, they more than likely don't see themselves or anyone they know in the pages of the book.
This is why Muslim parents and children were delighted to see a recently released board book, featuring famous literary chimp and childhood friend Curious George celebrating Ramadan with a Muslim friend.
Muslims authors have made some booklists: Local Marylander Hena Khan's Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, published by Chronicle Books, has been on the Amazon Best sellers list in the Children Islam category. Rukhsana Khan, a Canadian writers book Big Red Lollipop was chosen as 100 Great Children's Books by the New York Public Library.
Self-publishing is a venue that some authors have taken due to the dearth of mainstream publishing companies which have a Muslim specific imprint. Book releases in this category include Khadijah and Ahmed, a story of a set of Muslim brother and sister, written by Razeena Gutta, an Australian Muslim mom who published independently. Another favorite is Ilyas and Duck by Omar Khawaja who published through his own publishing company.
The lack of diversity in children's" books spurned a movement. "We Need Diverse Books is a grassroots organization of children's book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. It is a direct result of this movement.
Simon and Schuster, a major book publisher based in New York has recently launched Salaam Reads, a first of its kind imprint that aims to introduce readers of all faiths and backgrounds to a wide variety of Muslim children and families, and offer Muslim kids an opportunity to see themselves reflected positively in published works.
"There are 3.3 million Muslims in the United States, 1.6 billion in the world, and they are an underserved literary market," Jon Anderson, president of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, said in the company's press release.
"Our aim with the Salaam Reads imprint is in part to provide fun and compelling books for Muslim children, but we also intend for these books to be entertaining and enriching for a larger non-Muslim audience," executive editor Zareen Jaffery said in the company's statement. Jaffery served for two years as a member of the Children's Book Council (CBC) Diversity Committee, and is currently a co-chair of the Diversity within Association of Library Service to Children Task Force. Jaffery joined S & S Books for Young Readers in February 2011 after working for Harper Collins Childrenís Books. At S & S, she focuses on commercial and literary young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as teen nonfiction.
Salaam Reads will publish books by Awakening Media recording artist Harris J, poet and TEDx speaker Mark Gonzales, as well as debut authors Karuna Riazi and H.A. Raz. Harris J's song Salam alaykum will be now be published into a book. Gonzales will publish a book called Yo Soy Muslim. This will be a picture book with lyrics, about a parent letting a child know that he is loved and the value of a multicultural heritage.
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