Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents

by Sarah Conover

Presents Islamic stories that offer a background in Islamic traditions, folk tales, and mystical verse.

Genres: Childrens, Islam, Muslims

189 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Sarah Conover holds a BA in comparative religions from the University of Colorado, and an MFA in creative writing from Eastern Washington University. She has worked as a television producer for PBS and Internews (an international media NGO), a social worker for Catholic Charities, a public school teacher, and taught creative writing through the community colleges of Spokane, Washington. She is the author of six books on world wisdom traditions and spirituality published by Skinner House Books, the educational publishing arm of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Her poetry, essays and interviews have been published in a variety of literary magazines and anthologies. She is a feature writer and columnist for Tricycle Magazine: the Buddhist Review and has taught meditation for many years at Airway Heights Corrections Center and within the Spokane community.

Ms. Conover was a recipient of Washington State’s Grants for Artist’s Projects (GAP grant) and writing fellowships from the Ucross Foundation in Clearmont, Wyoming, and the Willapa Bay Artist Residence Program in Oysterville, Washington. She lives in a condo in Spokane, Washington and in her beloved yurtiverse at the base of the North Cascades in Winthrop, Washington, where she and her husband are building a small hermitage for monastic retreats.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always appreciate learning more about other cultures, and this book does a good job of including stories from the many regions where Islam is practiced. Many of the stories had great humor and I would chuckle out loud at their endings.

[M Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of stories from all around the world, all of which with a moral or a point. Each story begins with a quote (which were very well picked) and the whole book has beautiful illustrations. Recommend to anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim!

[T. Tran]

Wide-ranging. Some familiar, many not.

[Beth Syverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully edited and illustrated!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming collection of Islamic (not Arabic) folk tales, legends, and wisdom literature, the equal of Aesop's Fables and a wonderful insight into these much-neglected cultures.

[Aisha Monet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent children's storybook!