Like the Moon Loves the Sky

Hena Khan (More to the Story) opens this peaceful incantation with a spread of young brown-skinned parents bowed over an infant: "Inshallah you are all/ that is gentle and good." A page turn later, they push the baby in a stroller: "Inshallah you feel safe, / like all children should." Debuting illustrator Saffa Khan creates vibrant ink and digital spreads in sunset tints striated with blues and greens. As the pages turn, the infant becomes a child, learns to ride a bike ("Inshallah you have faith/ that won't waver or bend"), and learns to take responsibility for actions; the child is pictured on a doorstep with two friends, one hijabi, holding a note that reads "sorry." Thoughtfully, a spread that accompanies the words "Inshallah you travel/ to thrilling new places" shows children, including one using a wheelchair, playing make believe instead of on a picturesque overseas trip. It's a view of a childhood focused not just on well-being, but on hope--to "count all your blessings" and "find wonder"--as well. An author's note defines inshallah ("if God wills it" in Arabic) as a word "used by people of many faiths to reflect the idea of a greater force or power beyond ourselves." Ages 3-5. (Mar.)

PreS-K—A bedtime story that reassures children that they are loved. This book depicts parents' aspirations and desires for their children at different stages of life. Each page starts with the phrase "Inshallah," which means "if God wills it" in Arabic. Although these hopes and wishes are inspired by the Quran, they portray parents' universal desires for their children, such as "Inshallah you feel safe, like all children should," "Inshallah you are kind to those most in need." Each page depicts how different stages of a child's life add new expectations and hopes for parents, such as "Inshallah you reach out to make new friends" and "Inshallah you speak truth and work for its sake." The illustrations expand across each spread along with one simple sentence and showcase Arabic calligraphy as art pieces on the walls. The artwork is colored with matte tones and has a two-dimensional feel. VERDICT A book for Muslim families to introduce religious traditions to young children and for non-Muslim families who wish to teach diversity and religious acceptance.—Noureen Qadir-Jafar, Syosset Library, NY