All the Ways to be Pretty by Shamaila Khan illustrated by Reyhana Ismail
The premise of this book is fabulous, an Islamic approach to internal beauty to counter the societal emphasis on external appearance, by drawing on the examples of Ai’shah (RA), Khadija (RA), Sumayyah (RA), Maryam (RA), Hajar (RA), and Rufaidah (RA), may Allah swt be pleased with them all. The illustrations are decent, focusing on the girl understanding what her mother is saying and her imaging herself with those qualities. The part that I struggled with, is I flipped through it before I started reading it, and the pages are often walls of text. Additionally, I didn’t realize it is rhyming text over 34 pages. SubhanAllah though, somehow, it works. I can see this book being shared at preteen gatherings in masajids, homes, and schools everywhere. The rhyme at times is forced and lacking, but the flow makes the walls of text zoom by and the information shared is not overwhelming and Alhumdulillah, it doesn’t stray too far from the central messaging. You could share it with younger readers, but I think it works best if the audience knows some of the women and facts highlighted, and the information shared is a mix of reminder and new tidbits urging further exploration. The publisher lists the reading age at 7-10 which is probably a good fit based on the amount of text, but the rhyme, mirrors at the end, and starting point of battling beauty standards on the screen and “Princess” messaging is a bit of a target audience disconnect, which is why I point it out so consumers are aware.
The book starts with a lengthy author’s note before the rhyming scene of a mother and daughter walking to school and discussing what the daughter would like to be. The girl doesn’t answer a profession, but rather responds that she wants to be pretty, and gives some justifications. The mother gently then encourages her not to just want to be pretty, but rather pretty smart, pretty wise, pretty brave, pretty pious, pretty resilient, and pretty kind, before concluding with the girl throughout the day thinking of how to be like them, and her mother, to earn Allah’s pleasure. Each attribute is a two page spread with one of the historical women featured. The book ends with a hadith and six mirrors with the characteristics beneath them.
I like that the book does not try to give an entire biography about the women featured. I also like that Islamic references are also brought in, some explained some not. It is “Islamic fictionalized non fiction” it is meant for Muslims with Islamic framing, not just Muslim characters, and it has substance. Lately so many self published or even Islamic published books seem to not feature Islamic foundational themes, and I realize how much I have missed reading books that do. Yes, I normally would have a solution to offer as to how to make the pages less text filled and I know I should say that maybe it shouldn’t rhyme, because it makes for some awkward phrasing, over explaining, and useless lines, but alas, I have no suggestions. We need books that present our Sahabas and Prophets in a manner that allow our kids to know them and think of them and emulate them. Alhumdulillah, I can see this book being read and shared and discussed, and that to me is a “pretty “good thing.
