Salaam: A Muslim American Boy's Story - Hardcover

Tricia Brown is the author of several acclaimed books for young readers, including Someone Special, Just Like You. She lives in Sacramento, California.

Ken Cardwell is a freelance photographer who has won several awards for his portraiture. He lives in El Dorado Hills, California.

Kindergarten-Grade 3–A gentle and informative look at a Muslim-American boy and the way he practices his faith. The book does a good job of explaining each of the Five Pillars of Islam, even though they are not discussed in numerical order. Good-quality black-and-white photos enhance the presentation and effectively show the warmth of Imran's family life. The discussion of hijab (the headscarves worn by Muslim women) is very brief, in part because Imran's mother doesn't wear one regularly. Not all Muslim Americans would agree that wearing a hijab is a choice. Since this is a very visible part of the Muslim faith, it is almost certainly one that children will have more questions about. A helpful glossary with a pronunciation guide and some additional information about the Five Pillars is appended. While not an essential purchase, this is an important book because of the simplicity of the text and because it tackles the current climate of fear toward Muslims.–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH
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