As an elementary school educator in Toronto, I am very passionate about bringing the theory of equity and social justice to practice in the different classrooms and learning spaces I have the privilege of being part of and serving. I believe that it is one of the ways we can move towards creating a fair and just world for people of all identities.
Children’s literature and stories are often the tools that are used to carry out the curriculum in elementary classrooms and learning spaces. Books can help us learn about each other by seeing all parts of our identities. The choices in the children depicted and the books included in the reading challenge list are very intentional. It is to show that Muslim people have intersectional identities. They are not a monolithic people which single stories often depict them as being. To really work toward justice, we need to learn how different people experience the world individually and systemically because of oppressive and unfair structures. Books act as springboards to have these conversations with ourselves as well as the young people in our lives in age appropriate and tangible ways.
Often there are single stories about Muslims that represent us as a monolithic group and center us only outside of the North American context. I was interested in creating a resource that would center and celebrate Muslim voices and characters in universal themes and everyday experiences to restore our dignity and humanity. While thinking of how to do this in a fun way, I remembered the reading challenges I used to do with my sister in the summertime organized by the Toronto Public Library. I wanted to share stories that countered stereotypes about Muslim people by centering stories with the themes of family, friendship, cooking, hobbies etc. I wanted Muslim children to be able to have their identities affirmed and others to expand their ideas and views.
There are so many amazing books being published that center and include Muslim characters authentically and accurately. This reading challenge is a collection of 45 books and the children who live large within them. They venture into all corners of the world to learn about it and in joy and struggle they find themselves along the way. They both learn about their religion and make efforts to also teach about it with their words and actions. This reading challenge is not a comprehensive list but just a way to share some of these amazing stories and illustrations. I believe to really move towards dignity, respect, and justice for people of all identities in our world all people need to be represented all the time.
I am honoured and humbled by the response for the reading challenge. I am excited that it is making its way into the hands and hearts of people all over the world. I truly believe that books can help us center and restore the dignity and humanity of people by building bridges of solidarity and understanding. They can help us move towards a fair and just world. Thank you to everyone who has interacted with the reading challenge and to you for taking the time to read this article. I appreciate all of the love, encouragement and support. Get your own copy of the reading challenge online at https://www.rabiakhokhar.com/reading-challenges. And then spend the summer on an awesome adventure to read as many of these books as you can!
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