Book Description

An author and artist who has continually stripped away the
mystique of architectural structures that have long fascinated
modern people, David Macaulay here reveals the methods and
materials used to design and construct a mosque in late-sixteenth-
century Turkey. Through the fictional story and Macaulay"s distinctive full-color illustrations, readers will learn not only how such monumental structures were built but also how they functioned in relation to the society they served.
As always, Macaulay has given a great deal of attention to the
relationship between pictures and text, creating another brilliant
celebration of an architectural wonder. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Macaulay tops himself
A very informative book about the building of a mosque in the Middle Ages that can be appreciated by anyone from teenagers on up (anyone younger might not get the full benefit of the text, unless they are intellectually gifted). Macaulay focuses on the architectural and social aspects surrounding these holy structures, so that even those with no knowledge of Islam can appreciate the significance that these buildings have in Muslim culture. Not only that, the author's drawing style has improved greatly from his books of the mid-70s, bringing more vividness to the subject and doing justice to the intricacies and beauty of the artwork within the mosque. As always with Macaulay's books, a treat for the eye and the mind.

Richie's Picks: MOSQUE
When I take such pleasure in reading about Paul Edward Logan's accomplished woodworking skills in THE LAND, when I become so attached to Alex and Morris Rose's old house and unique towers in THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE, and when I delight in telling middle school audiences about Duncan's toilet-stealing scene in ACCELERATION, it is within the context of those beloved childhood memories: Days breathing sawdust and trying to keep my hands warm through a gray autumn Saturday as I did a man's work on my dad's construction jobs and created something lasting.

Thus, I can imagine being one of Huseyin Bey's nine sons. Huseyin is hired to serve as the superintendent of building for the fictitious, late-1500s construction feat that is chronicled in David Macaulay's MOSQUE. To read David's dedication, "For my children and their children's children" is to get but an inkling of the temporal scale we must learn to think in when discussing the subject matter. This is a book which can quite handily serve as the front step for a comprehensive study of the Islamic religion, or of the Ottoman empire, or of what is going on today. And while the impeccable work of David Macaulay is no secret to any of us, this focus on the magnificent vision, the mathematical beauty, and detailed craftsmanship inherent in these structures sacred to a large part of the world, is a wonderful way to begin educating children (and their parents) about that which most of the West is so ignorant. (I am sad to say that as I read MOSQUE during half-time at a freshman basketball game yesterday, someone's parent leaned over and muttered, "Yeah, mosques, that's where they hide the weapons of mass destruction.")

Throughout the book we're treated to those illustrations for which David Macaulay is so well known and loved: from large overviews of the overall project as it rises from the ground, down to detailed views of creating stained glass windows, bricks, forged iron grilles, perfectly rounded arches, and the Muezzins' balcony.

The what?

Yes, that's another great thing about MOSQUE. We are provided with a whole series of new "languages," involving architecture and the Islamic culture. And not only do we see how the project is laid out so that the worshippers are facing Mecca when they pray, but we also get to see the balconies, the bakeries, the bathrooms and the bath house.

Not a picture book for little kids, MOSQUE is an entertaining and info-packed illustrated introduction to a world different from our own--temporally, geographically, and culturally--which we learn is not all so different as some would want us to think.

Yet Another Fine David Macaulay Book
* I'm something of a fan of David Macaulay -- author of THE WAY THINGS WORK,
CASTLE, CATHEDRAL, BUILDING BIG, and other books for adolescents -- who
always does a very neat job of describing how various constructions are put
together. (BUILDING BIG was also a PBS TV series, and showed that Mr.
Macaulay is also an articulate and enthusiastic lecturer.) Anyway, when I
ran across his latest work, MOSQUE, I had to pick it up and go through it.

MOSQUE details the construction of a mosque in Istambul at the end of the
16th century, when the Ottoman Empire was at its peak. The story of the
construction of this particular mosque was fictional, but the building's
design follows principles established by Sinan, the chief architect of the
Ottoman court for fifty years during the 16th century, and the details of
actual construction were carefully researched. No doubt Mr. Macauley did not
want to have to go through the extremely difficult job of trying to
authenticate the personnel and chronology of a specific construction project,
which would have greatly increased his effort without any real benefit to the
reader.

In any case, the story begins in 1595, when a wealthy and powerful Ottoman
admiral decided to create a charitable foundation to establish a mosque in
Istambul as his legacy. Actually, the admiral wanted to build more than just
a mosque; he wanted to establish a "kulliye", a complex of buildings centered
around the mosque but including a seminary (madrese), a bathhouse (hamam), a
soup kitched (imaret), a public fountain (cesme), and his tomb (turbe).

Construction began in the spring of 1596 on a burned out section of the city.
Planning details of the effort were pretty much what they are for a big
construction project today, involving estimating materials and costs, lining
up suppliers and subcontractors, and keeping work on a prearranged schedule.
Some of the considerations were surprisingly elaborate, such as ordering the
fabrication of stained-glass panels from Venice.

The buildings were constructed of stone and brick. The mosque itself was a
two-story stone box with a brick dome and a minaret, with the building laid
out so the faithful would face Mecca, and with a front courtyard with a
fountain for washing (a "sadirvan") before prayers. The other buildings were
single-floor structures, with a set of rooms, each with its own small brick
dome, ringing a courtyard. The complex was completed in 1600 and dedicated
in July of that year.

The admiral died soon after and was laid to rest in the turbe. However, his
favorite wife then funded the construction of two more buildings for the
kulliye: a combination office / shop and hotel building (han) and an
overnight lodge for caravans (caravanserai). They followed similar design
principles to the other buildings in the kulliye and were completed in 1602.

MOSQUE maintains the same standards of quality as Mr. Macaulay has set in
books like PYRAMID and CATHEDRAL, and in fact MOSQUE follows the exact same
format, with very tidy drawings of even small details of construction and Mr.
Macaulay's friendly, clear prose. Although targeted at adolescents, this
book meets the standard that any good book for young people should meet: a
adult can read it and find it perfectly entertaining and informative.
Recommended, if you can get into construction projects.

Good book... for adults
Macaulay draws as well as any architect, and his lengthy explanations of the architectural intricacies of a mosque's construction are clear. Unfortunately, it would be a rare child who would possibly interested in any such thing, and this verbose, detailed picture book is not likely to draw them in. His books are more popular with the New York Times set who thinks children's books ought to be aimed at adults. However, this book may prove useful for kids in the 4th grade and up who need to do a report on mosques.

Fascinating Fictional History
As the author has shown in numerous award-winning books-Cathedral, Pyramid and City, to name a few-his unique gift is the ability to show how monumental historical creations have been fabricated through wonderfully complex sequences of logical steps. This book fits neatly into that lineage, which could seem formulaic by now if each book were anything less than fascinating. Though the mosque, architect and patron in his story are all fictional, the book is set in Istanbul between 1540 and 1580, during the life-time of Sinan, the most renowned architect of the Ottoman Empire. The author remains faithful to that history, and imparts genuine awe at the resulting beauty. DD ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the faith, culture, and history that have shaped the modern Islamic world. Explore the traditions, culture, and history of Islam with this stunning in--depth look at the complex world of one of the world's greatest religions. Artifacts, sacred objects and modern--day photographs combine to provide the dramatic level of detail for which the Eyewitness series is known. ... Read more

Book Description

Beautiful Signs / Ayat Jamilah draws from not only the core of Islamic spirituality and ethics--the Qur'an and the traditions (hadiths)--but also from the mystical verse, folk tales, and exemplary figures of the Islamic narrative. Unlike any other collection of Islamic stories, Beautiful Signs gathers traditional stories from the farthest reaches of the Muslim world, stretching from Morocco in the west to Indonesia in the east, and from China in the north to Tanzania in the south.

This unique anthology, with its rich and thorough explanatory notes, will be invaluable to anyone wishing to understand or teach geography, world history, or world religions. It will also be treasured by Muslim families and by all parents committed to broadening the lives and values of their children and themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

Muhammad
is
the messenger of Islam.

Born in Mecca in the year 570, Muhammad grew into a sensitive and thoughtful man who believed deeply in the worship of one true god.

In his fortieth year, Muhammad experienced a revelation from the angel Gabriel that he, Muhammad, was the messenger of God. Over the next twenty-three years, he received many such revelations, all of which were written down by scribes at the time of revelation to become the Koran, the sacred scripture of Islam, a religion that is practiced by nearly one-quarter of the world's population and holds as its most sacred tenet that there is no god but God.

Through a clear text and stunning illustrations based upon those of traditional Islamic expression, the award-winning artist Demi here introduces the remarkable life of the Prophet Muhammad for young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Wonderful introduction to the life of Muhammad
This is a beautiful, brief biography of the life of Muhammad. Demi's illustrations are lovely and are a perfect complement to his life. Of course it does not cover every aspect of Muhammad's life, but it is respectful and Demi's selection of episodes in his life are accurate and not misleading at all. I highly recommend this book as an introduction to Muhammad and Islam.

An enlightening piece of work
Sensitive prose and detailed, beautiful illustrations in the style of Persian miniatures make this one of the best books for readers young (and old) seeking an introductory biographical sketch of the Prophet Muhammad and the story of the origins of Islam. What is most remarkable is that the author presents this story as it is widely understood within Islam-her sources and bookjacket endorsements are all Muslims-yet in a way that illuminates that understanding for non-Muslims. DD

A work of art
The illustrations in this book are amazing -- gold gilt and beautiful details. The text is easy to read and fluid and is the standard accepted scholarly biography of Muhammad's life. (This is not a revisionist religious studies discussion, after all, and she's not pushing any envelopes.)

Demi's tone is not reverent, but respectful and considerate. The review from School Library Journal above reveals more about the author's prejudices than this book's biases: she says that Muslims weren't supposed to be friends with Jews and Christians, but the Jews and Christians to whom the Qur'an refers were the ones persecuting the early Muslims in 7th century Arabia. The reviewer neglects to mention that the Qur'an also says that Muslims can MARRY Jews and Christians because of their elevated status in Islam (Jews and Christians are called "People of an Earlier Revelation").

Demi, on the other hand, has adopted a very appropriate tone for this book. In a children's book about Jesus or Moses or Krishna, I would want to see a respectful narrative tone, as well.

Highly recommended for both children and adults -- a lovely way to get to know something about the 2nd largest religion in the world.

Beautiful
This is a gorgeous book, with really beautiful illustrations and a respectful narrative that's been checked and proofread by academic historians on the subject. It's informative without being either for or against the subject matter. (In fact, the tone is a bit like a college classroom professor's, but of course much easier to understand!) Highly recommended. She's done books on other religous personages, too.

Highly recommended for all ages
Written and illustrated by award-winning children's book author Demi, Muhammad is a unique and superbly crafted picture book presentation of the religious and historical figure of Muhammad, the man who brought the scripture and faith of Islam to the world. In keeping with Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad and his family are not pictured directly; instead, a solid gold silhouette represents Muhammad in the various simple, expressive color illustrations. The text succinctly records Muhammad's life, faith, and his efforts to spread the word of God. Muhammad is highly recommended for all ages and would make an excellent acquisition choice for school and community libraries wanting reliable materials to explain Islam to young American readers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Towards Understanding a Faith series
The book is really useful in informing about Islam. About the book makes itself self explanatory: "An overview of the beliefs and customs of Islam, including an introduction to sacred texts, a history of the religion, important holidays, and worship practices around the world."

This series 'World Beliefs and Cultures,' intended audience is young adults.

Islam: Discovering Religions
This is a very resourcful, helpful book if you want to learn more about the Islamic religion. It's packed with information, and I got a nine page report out of it. I think it could of included a little more informationabout the current world events that involve the Islam religion, but otherthan that it is a very helpful book. ... Read more

Book Description

Yunus, a prophet, chosen by Allah to teach the people how to be good, fair and above all, to love one another, becomes confronted with rejection as know one will hear him.As he tries to escape his chosen position by Allah, Yunus discovers a faith and love for Allah as none before. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Board book for very young children
This is a very simple board book with content targeted for a 3 to 4 year old. It seems very difficult to find books about Islam, the Qur'an or Muhammad for 4 to 8 year olds. The content of the book is fine, but very, very basic. ... Read more

Book Description

Celebrate the Islamic Year with your children! You are invited to explore Muslim festivals with this inspiring treasury of stories, suras, songs, games, recipes, crafts and art activities. The major festivals are described vividly, together with attractive projects that engage children creatively. A selection of folk tales illustrates the core values underlying Islamic culture with gentle humor and wisdom. This is a unique resource for educators and parents who want to share the spiritual wealth of Islam with children. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An Amazing Book!
This book truly embraces the beauty of Islam, and the teachings of Islam, with respect to all the religions. I highly recommend this book to anyone out there who wants to learn more about, or research in depth the truth about this serene and peaceful religion. Happy Reading to all! :) ... Read more

Book Description

A collection of short stories, poems and prose that examines the world through the eyes of Muslim children. Written especially for North American children, both Muslim and non-Muslim, each story represents a tenet of Islam in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening. Non-fiction sidebars help to explain and amplify the Islamic references. Some of the stories are humorous, others are touching, but all are compelling stories of children learning and growing withing their culture. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Timely and informative
A timely book that fills gap, Muslim Child consists of 8 stories that illustrate the history of Islam, the 5 pillars of Muslim religion (belief, praying, fasting, charity and the pilgrimage to Mecca) and introduce traditional Islamic customs of dress, diet, and celebration. Written by a practicing Muslim, the stories stress that the religion is worldwide with diverse practitioners, and shows Muslim children struggling with fitting in while keeping the faith.
The author states in her introduction that her intention is to "Correct the misconceptions regarding Muslims" but there are several minor errors in comparing the culture of America and Christian religion to Islam, for example, stating that Halloween is a celebration of the forces of evil when it is based on the pagan new year.
The stories themselves are unexceptional; for example, in "The Black Ghost," point of view shifts midway through the story, and the endings of most are predictable. Still, the sprinkling of Arabic and small cultural details make the setting genuine. Sidebars define unfamiliar terms, but much of the information is repetitive, as if the publisher did not intend the work to be read a whole. Informational pages containing traditional recipes, excerpts from the Quran, or a history lesson are interspersed between the fiction, and a glossary and pronunciation guide concludes the book.
Hopefully this will be the first of many such books about a people that are in the forefront of our minds and that makes up a fifth of the world's population.

Designed to teach young readers about Islam
Written by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Patty Gallinger, and with sidebars by Irfan Alli, Muslim Child: Understanding Islam Through Stories And Poems is a selection of stories and poems designed to teach young readers about Islam. Muslim Child is emphatically not a proselytizing book, but rather an informational one, designed to show young people how Islamic children live, what they believe, and what the common practices of their faith are. A highly recommended and educational book for children everywhere, in an increasingly globalized world and in view of contemporary world events.

A unique book for all kinds of children
Having read Muslim Child, I really think it could be titled "Child". It's for anyone.

I've never seen a book that deals with issues of faith in such a way. As a Catholic I could completely identify with the feelings of the kids in the stories.

It really made me appreciate the similarities between our respective religions.

I think it's this author's best book. ... Read more

Book Description

This excellent work, itpresents fourteen short surahs of the Quran, each with Arabic text, English translation and transliteration. The format is oriented to international standards of language textbooks. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A basic introduction
The basic ideas, customs, and attitudes of this holiday are introduced to young children with most of the appropriate vocabulary and pronunciation guides. Photographs show a nice cultural variety of Muslims, from Arabic to Indian and Indonesian. The book says that at the end of Ramadan, "Muslims have a three-day celebration." Since that celebration is a major part of the holiday and easy to pronounce (EED), its omission is a significant flaw. Another cause for concern is the photograph accompanying the suggestion that all-day fasting is to difficult for some people. Among all the beautiful variety of Muslims world-wide, the picture of apparently African-American children eating cotton candy implies that they are the ones who cannot "keep a promise" to fast. But even with these flaws, this may be the best introduction currently available. ... Read more

Book Description

A colorful, fun-to-read introduction that explains the ways and whys of Muslim worship, faith, and religious life.

Colorful full-page photographs set the scene for concise but informative descriptions of what is happening, the objects used, the people who have specific roles, the spiritual intent of the believers, and more.

What You Will See Inside a Mosque will:

Satisfy kids' curiosity about what goes on in mosques attended by their friends, broadening awareness of other faiths at an important age when opinions and prejudices can first form.

Provide Muslim children with a deeper understanding of the practices of their own religious tradition.

Give children the opportunity to ask questions, making them more active participants. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not as scary as you thought
A good introduction to Islam.
Nice book for children. This will help introduce them to one of the world's major religions, particularly to their place of worship.
Read the book, visit your local mosque and befriend a muslim - its just that simple

The Inside Story on Mosques
This book is a wonderful way to introduce an elementary-age child to Muslim practices. The author provides simple explanations of concepts that Muslims take for granted, especially those details that mosque-goers forget to explain to visitors, like the presence of shoe racks and wudu sinks. I highly recommend this book for interfaith purposes.

Amazing
This book made me take a whole different view on islam. The pictures and descriptions were extraordinary. This book changed my view of what a mosque looked like from the inside. ... Read more