That Counts! A Wudu Story by Jenny Molendyk Divleli illustrated by Ava Haghighi – Islamic School Librarian

I love funny books for our little Muslims and this one manages to take the kid giggling topic of passing gas and combine it with the educational element of making wudu and what breaks it, in an adorably illustrated way.  Mercifully it does not get too “gross” with discussing fluctuance and I absolutely adore that the imam is so patient and kind.  Over 32 pages we see Hamza and his friends make wudu, Hamza break his wudu and have to make it again and Imam Mustafa field questions about what counts as breaking wudu and what doesn’t.  Perfect for toddlers and early elementary kids learning the basics and reviewing the infractions, my only criticism is the wasting of paper towels.  The book is not a manual, and feels like a story, not a fictionalized how-to, but part of wudu is not wasting water, and the amount of paper towels Hamza appears to use in the illustrations is wasteful.  The book works great on its own, but I hope if discussion about wudu and manners and bodily functions does take place around the sharing of this story, that not wasting will also be part of the discussion.  Perhaps if the author sees this, she might even consider adding a line to balance the Imam telling Hamza to use a paper towel after the first making of wudu, and reminding him not to waste paper, and water, after the second trip to the wudu station.  And while I’m making imaginary requests, a pullout wudu poster like the one in Hamza’s masjid would also be a great addition in the future.