A lot of people think Hafsa looks like me, I cannot see it but I take it as a compliment. Hafsa’s personality is a little bit of me, her father and a whole lot of herself. We have several hobbies in common, including our love of reading. She started reading at a young age and it quickly became one of her favorite activities. I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t reading, I was probably born with a book in my hand.
We try to encourage her love of reading by taking her to the library once a week and we give her free range to read whatever interests her. However, I do try to steer her away from princess-themed books. She has to read at least one non-fiction book because it can expand her worldview by introducing her to something, someplace or someone that she is not familiar with and increase her vocabulary. We do put limits on where she can read, at the dinner and breakfast tables are a no-no because that’s family time.
I believe #RepresentationMatters especially in literature so I’m always looking for books with a Black female and/or Muslim protagonist. Growing up, I do not remember reading books, besides Rolling Thunder Hear My Cry, that had characters who looked like me. Recently, the publishing industry has started to embrace the importance of having diverse characters and stories, which has made it easier to find books that reflect her Blackness. However, there’s still a struggle to find books that represent both of her identities, Black and Muslim.
Even though I love historical fiction from the 1800s to the Civil War, I do not add these books to Hafsa’s “To-Read” bookshelf. A lot of times these books for her level do not adequately tell the history of slavery as these stories tend to be whitewashed, presented through rose-colored falsehoods as to shield the child readers from the true atrocities of slavery. Also, because she’s my child, she is well aware of the true history of slavery and its effects on our people.
Currently, her favorite genre to read is graphic novels and mysteries. These are some of her favorite books, which your little one may enjoy as well. We are always looking for book recommendations, please drop me an email or leave a comment below with your recommendation.
Graphic Novels
Growing up The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin was one of my favorite book series, Claudia was my favorite because she was the only POC. In 2015, Raina Telgemeier adapted four of the Baby-Sitters Club books into full-color graphic novels.
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova is about a diverse group of students who have to work together on a school Science Project.
Smile is an autobiographical graphic novel in full color by Raina Telgemeier about her frustrating journey getting her teeth fixed while dealing with middle school drama.
Nonfiction
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison has one-page summaries of 40 Black Woman in a variety of fields and includes a beautiful illustration of each woman.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles was a gift from my mother when Hafsa was younger. I’ve tried to get her to donate it but she will not because she still reads it. This book tells the story of Ruby Bridges the first Black girl to desegregate a white school in New Orleans, Lousiana in 1960.
Fiction
Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich & Audrey Vernick. Naomi Marie and Naomi Edith have nothing in common until their parents start dating. Now, they not only have to learn how to be friends but also family.
In the President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston, Briana Justice wants to become class president. And in the President of the Whole Sixth Grade, Briana has to raise money for the class trip.
Meg Murry, along with her brother, Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin, must rescue her father, a scientist, from evil forces on another planet in Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia DeVillers is the first book in the 3 part Liberty Porter series. She’s an average 9-year old except her father is the President of the United States.
