Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

by Hena Khan (Author) Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator)

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
In simple rhyming text a young Muslim girl and her family guide the reader through the traditions and colors of Islam. Full color.
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Kirkus

A sophisticated color-concept book featuring a contemporary family introduces Islam to young Muslims and children who don’t practice this faith.

Here the basic colors, plus gold and silver, are used to explain aspects of Islamic life. A young girl with very large eyes narrates, using short, childlike and occasionally forced verses to match colors and objects: “Gold is the dome of the mosque, / big and grand. / Beside it two towering / minarets stand.” She describes a red prayer rug, her mom’s blue hijab (headscarf), white kufis (traditional men’s woven hats), black ink for a calligraphic design, brown dates for Ramadan, orange henna designs, an Eid gift of a doll with a purple dress, a yellow zakat (charity) box, a green Quran (green has special significance in Islam, not explained here), and a silver fanoos, “a shiny lantern.” The glossary is excellent, explaining unfamiliar terms succinctly. The stylized illustrations, richly detailed, often play with the sizes of the objects in a surrealistic way. It is difficult to tell whether the family lives in the Middle East, Britain (home of the artist) or North America. The secular architecture looks Western, but the mosque looks very grand and Middle Eastern. The clothing styles are difficult to associate with a particular country. This both maximizes accessibility and deprives the tale of specificity—clearly a conscious trade-off.

A vibrant exploratory presentation that should be supplemented with other books.   (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright 2012 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission

Publishers Weekly

In this picture book, Khan (Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story) immerses young readers in "deen"--the Muslim way of life. Each spread portrays a Muslim custom, clothing style, or religious tenet and links it to a color used throughout the scene. "Red is the rug Dad kneels on to pray" exemplifies the accessible mix of tradition (prayer rugs) and modernity (colloquial English) the author uses throughout the book. The emphases are both the particulars of Islam and the universal concerns of all caring societies and religions--devotion; helping the poor through "zakat," or money for charity; exchanging gifts at the holiday of Eid. Amini's (The Faerie Door) illustrations apply lush and muted jewel tones to images and scenes from domestic and religious life in a contemporary Muslim culture. Scenes of street life and home life hold architectural detail and textile patterns and attract second and third looks. Arabic terms are woven into the text, some explained directly, some by context, making the book suitable for children of all faiths. A glossary provides additional information. Ages 3-7. (June)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

beautiful pictures

i love you,r writing i love the details i love it.

Hena Khan
Hena Khan is the author of numerous books for children, including Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors and Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story. She lives in Rockville, Maryland.

Mehrdokht Amini is the illustrator of Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors and other books for children. She grew up in Iran and now lives in Surrey, England.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780811879057
Lexile Measure
660
Guided Reading Level
L
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Publication date
June 20, 2012
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV009020 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Colors
JUV017090 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Other, Religious
Library of Congress categories
Stories in rhyme
Colors
Color
Customs and practices
Muslims
Islam
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
Recommended 2013 - 2013
Parents Choice Awards (Fall) (2008-Up)
Approved 2012 - 2012
Middle East Book Awards
Honorable Mention 2013 - 2013

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