Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

by Hena Khan, Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator)

Overview

Magnificently capturing the colorful world of Islam for the youngest readers, this breathtaking and informative picture book celebrates Islam's beauty and traditions. From a red prayer rug to a blue hijab, everyday colors are given special meaning as young readers learn about clothing, food, and other important elements of Islamic culture, with a young Muslim girl as a guide. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is equally at home in a classroom reading circle as it is being read to a child on a parent's lap.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811879057
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	06/06/2012
Series:	A Muslim Book Of Concepts Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Hena Khan's first picture book, Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story, was a 2009 Booklist "Top 10 Religion Book for Youth." She lives in Rockville, Maryland, with her husband and sons.

Mehrdokht Amini has illustrated 11 books for children. She grew up in Iran and now lives in Surrey, England.

Editorial Reviews

"One of my favorite Islamic children's books... is a festival of color and culture."—Book Riot

"One of my favorite Islamic children's books... is a festival of color and culture."—Book Riot

"One of my favorite Islamic children's books... is a festival of color and culture."—Book Riot

From the Publisher

A sophisticated color-concept book featuring a contemporary family introduces Islam to young Muslims and children who don't practice this faith. Here the basic colors, plus gold and silver, are used to explain aspects of Islamic life. A young girl with very large eyes narrates, using short, childlike and occasionally forced verses to match colors and objects: "Gold is the dome of the mosque, / big and grand. / Beside it two towering / minarets stand." She describes a red prayer rug, her mom's blue hijab (headscarf), white kufis (traditional men's woven hats), black ink for a calligraphic design, brown dates for Ramadan, orange henna designs, an Eid gift of a doll with a purple dress, a yellow zakat (charity) box, a green Quran (green has special significance in Islam, not explained here), and a silver fanoos, "a shiny lantern." The glossary is excellent, explaining unfamiliar terms succinctly. The stylized illustrations, richly detailed, often play with the sizes of the objects in a surrealistic way. It is difficult to tell whether the family lives in the Middle East, Britain (home of the artist) or North America. The secular architecture looks Western, but the mosque looks very grand and Middle Eastern. The clothing styles are difficult to associate with a particular country. This both maximizes accessibility and deprives the tale of specificity--clearly a conscious trade-off. A vibrant exploratory presentation that should be supplemented with other books. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews