RATING: 🟢 Recommended
REVIEWER: Lana Hassan
REVIEW METHODOLOGY: Louise Derman-Spark's Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children's Books
Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is an inspiring and intimate story that delves into an experience many Muslims face in America. The story follows newly turned 7-year-old Muhammad who has just started praying in earnest. He plans on taking his salat rug to school and praying there. But because Muhammad has observed his father getting laughed at while he was praying in public, Muhammed is anxious about asking his teacher for a private place to pray and instead hides his rug from everyone.
Later, when prayer time comes around again as the sun sets, Muhammad’s father parks at the side of the road, gets his prayer rug out, and starts his salat. As he does this, a woman walks past and stops to look at him with an angry, judgmental look. His father continues his prayer anyway. Inspired by his dad’s courage, Muhammad joins his father in praying. The next day at school, Muhammad musters up the bravery to talk to his teacher, telling her that he is a Muslim and he needs a place to pray. His voice shakes while asking, but, as the book notes, “bravery sometimes comes with shaking.” The teacher responds by saying of course, showing her support.
The book highlights a very needed story as it explains and includes emotions that a lot of students experience. There are 3.45 million Muslim Americans, and praying is a big part of following Islam. Alongside with praying come a lot of people who are curious and unknowing of how it works, and this book does an amazing job of introducing the act of praying for children and young minds.
Overall, the book showcases being courageous and practicing your religion even if you face ridicule and nervousness. It gives children in classrooms anywhere the perspective of being a Muslim and lets them learn in a playful way, yet touches on the issues that can come alongside it sincerely. The author, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a Muslim herself and this brings a layered and appreciated aspect to the book as well, as she has experienced praying herself. By reading this book, children can learn about a religion that many of their peers and themselves might follow. They can also learn about bravery -- how even if it comes with shaking hands and voices, it’s still bravery nonetheless.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
REVIEWER BIO: Lana was a student Portland State University and took Zapoura Newton-Calvert's Social Justice in K12 Education course. Their volunteer work was a partnership with Reading Is Resistance and the Social Justice Books Project from Teaching for Change.
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