Gift Guide: Chapter Books For Kids

While researching Chapter Books for my girls (3rd and 5th grade), I ran across a series call Jannah Jewels, The adventures of Ahmad Deen and Layla Deen and My name is Bilal.

These books were intended to spark students imaginations and to foster a lifelong love of reading and research.  Children learn that research can be done in so many ways from reading a book to asking experts. Along with featuring Muslim characters with Islamic mannerisms, the books also teach history and facts about other countries, as the characters go on their adventures.

If you are looking for books for this age group here is a gift guide, which feature Muslim characters and are written with a Muslim’s perspective.

     1. Jannah Jewels:

The Jannah Jewels land in the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali. Suddenly, they are caught in the middle of a mystery. Someone has stolen a priceless manuscript! While following clues, they find the Grand Mosque and discover the Treasure King. Who exactly is the Treasure King and can the Jannah Jewels restore the missing manuscript into a Golden Clock before time runs out?

     2. One Green Apple

Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn’t speak. It’s hard being the new kid in school, especially when you’re from another country and don’t know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs.

     3. The Adventures of Ahmad Deen and Layla Deen

Journey with Ahmad and Layla Deen as they embark on one amazing adventure after another. In this special omnibus edition, all four Deen family stories are gathered in one place for hours of non-stop thrills. In the first story, Ahmad and Layla take a trip with their father to sunny Mexico to learn about the ancient Aztecs. After their father is kidnapped, they learn more about this ancient civilization than they could ever imagine. In the second story, Layla tries to catch a thief and what she discovers about herself is a lot more than she ever thought possible. In the third story, Ahmad goes on a class trip to China, but instead of getting a history lesson, he may become a victim of history, along with his annoying roommate. Can he survive? In the final story, Layla is a young teenager trying to survive her last year of junior high school. Just when she thinks her feelings of isolation are starting to get manageable, the student council decides to have a popularity contest – and her name is mysteriously entered! Find out what happens!

     4. The Victory Boys: Team Spirit

As the Victory Boys prepare to defend their trophy, in walks Amir, a player good enough to win it on his own! But for all his stunning skills, is he ready to become one of the team? And with Ibrahim battling jealousy and low self-confidence, can the Shabab Al-Nasr (the Victory Boys) find that winning team spirit once more?

     5.  My Name Is Bilal

Bilal worries about being teased by his classmates for being Muslim. He thinks maybe it would be better if people don’t know he is Muslim. Maybe it would be best if he tells kids his name is Bill rather than Bilal. Then maybe they would leave him alone. Mr. Ali, one of Bilal’s teachers and also Muslim, sees how the boy is struggling. He gives Bilal a book about the first person to give the call to prayer during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. That person was another Bilal: Bilal Ibn Rabah. What Bilal learns from the book forms the compelling story of a young boy wrestling with his identity.

     6. Helping the Polonskys (Muslim All-Stars)

In this exciting new series, a group of Muslim kids come together to clean up an old Jewish man’s house before his wife returns home from a major operation. But with time running out and a bigger mess than they had imagined . . . can they succeed?

Have you read any of these book? 

* There may be affiliate links in this post.