Award-Winning Canadian Muslim Educator Creates Go-To Summer Reading List With Muslim-Centered Children’s Books

Rabia Khokhar, a resource teacher in the Greater Toronto Area, compiled a list of children’s books that amplify Muslim voices for parents to read to their children this summer.

Though she only spent a month putting the list together, she said she’d had this idea for much longer. Growing up an avid reader, she never saw herself in any of the books she read.

“Our voices have always been here, but there have always been structures that have prevented our voices from being heard or even being excluded,” she said in an interview with CTV News Canada.

Khokhar remembers the summers she took part in reading challenges from her public library. Now, she sees those challenges as a way to help the next generations of children create an inclusive world through literature.

The extensive list was published on her website last week. She describes her reading challenge as a way to “share some amazing books.”

“Books can help us affirm and expand experiences. There are so many amazing books being published that center and include Muslim characters authentically and accurately,” a message on her website read. “This reading challenge is not a comprehensive list but just a way to share some of these amazing books. 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.”

Some of the titles written by American and Canadian authors include “Salma the Syrian Chef,” “Under My Hijab,” “Fatima’s Great Outdoors,” “Rumaysa,” and “Amina’s Voice.”

Khokhar also believes that fun activities like reading challenges will better humanize marginalized groups.

“I think everyday stories restore the dignity of people,” she said. “I think if you can see yourself in an experience like family, friendship, teamwork or sports — universal experiences — I really believe that’s one of the ways that we can build bridges of understanding and really counter those negative stereotypes with children.”

Khokhar’s past work as an educator-led her to win the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario’s 2020-2021 Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award.

This list, according to Khokhar, is one important step for parents and educators to take when it comes to ongoing equity and inclusion efforts.

“We can’t have a Muslim kid only being highlighted during Islamic Heritage Month or Black students only having their identity represented during Black History Month. This is how we start but they can’t be where we end up,” she said.