Have a question or need help navigating our site? Click below to find answers to the most common questions from our readers. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, contact us.
-
How do I get started on your site?
We’re here to help you find the best books for children. The easiest way to get started is to visit our main book page, then filter by age. Click on a book cover to read the synopsis, see our ratings, and review any yellow flags. Many of our books have custom reviews and teaching tools. Check out this video tutorial for more.
-
If I don’t see a book on Mindful Muslim Reader, does it mean you don’t recommend it?
We are constantly updating our lists with books worth reading. We recommend books (we’re not a review site) which means you will not find books that do not meet our criteria on our website. Our goal is to make finding the best books for your child easy. If you don’t see a book you love on our website, recommend it.
-
What types of books will Mindful Muslim Reader never recommend?
Mindful Muslim Reader recommends books based on our criteria and a rigorous review process. Books that promote, celebrate, or glorify* the following will not be recommended on our website:
• atheism
• disrespect toward parents, elders, tradition, and authority
• the non-binary view of gender, the sexualization of identity, or romantic relationships outside of the Abrahamic tradition
• moral relativism—the belief that no absolute authority determines the difference between right and wrong
• scientism—the excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge such that there is no room for Divine Revelation in the understanding of the world
• individualism—a value system in which the individual is of supreme importance and understanding of right and wrong is defined by a self-centric view of the world*If these themes are present in a book, we will only recommend it if they are portrayed as a vice—helping children to distinguish between right and wrong.
-
I recommended a book. Why don’t I see it on your site?
Mindful Muslim Reader recommends books based on our criteria and a rigorous review process. Books that do not meet our criteria will not be recommended on our website. Book reviews can take many weeks to complete. We currently do not accept self-published books for review.
-
What are your standards for recommending Muslim books?
We hold Muslim books (stories with Muslim protagonists, Islamic concepts and heritage) to a higher standard in the virtue category. We want to encourage and promote Muslim books in which the characters are clearly influenced by their belief in Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ. Books that solely rely on cultural practices or Muslim identity as the motivating force behind a character’s actions will be rated lower in virtue. Muslim protagonists, though flawed, must show clear growth in their character development for the book to earn a high virtue rating.
-
Why do you recommend books that don’t mention God?
We recommend books that build character, teach virtue, and instill in children a morality that parallels Islamic principles. Not every book will explicitly mention God, some may even deal in Greek mythology or include supernatural beings, but every book we recommend builds upon a way of understanding the world that reflects inherent Islamic beliefs. For example, books in which characters clearly distinguish between right and wrong or choose others over themselves will rank high in our virtue rating. Even if God is ostensibly absent from the narrative, a book can still build a worldview in which belief in God is natural.
-
What does “age recommendation” mean?
Our recommendation for age level generally reflects both the maturity of the content and the average reading level appropriate for the book. Parents may find it useful to look up the Lexile Level of a book, which gives a quantitative measure of text complexity and can be used along with a child’s Lexile score to determine if the book matches a child’s reading level.
-
I’m interested in helping out with this project.
Mindful Muslim Reader is excited to engage with parents and educators. Please contact us for more information.
-
How do I purchase these books?
Mindful Muslim Reader does not sell the books we recommend. However, if you purchase books through our affiliate links (Amazon, Bookshop, etc.), we may earn a small commission which helps support this vital community resource. You can find affiliate links on every book post page.
-
How do I support this project financially?
LET’S BUILD THIS TOGETHER! You can support this vital community resource here. Together we can elevate young Muslim readers one book at a time. Note: Donations are not-tax deductible.