Islamic picture books for little Muslims, ages 3–5

Most Islamic children's books are written for ages 6–9. Tiny Lanterns starts earlier — with the toddlers who are already standing on the prayer mat next to you, asking to help set the iftar table, and wondering why Friday feels different. Each story stays close to one real moment in a little child's day, and the faith lives inside the moment: a word before eating, a coin in the sadaqah box, a deep breath and sabr when the tower falls.

Husamaldeen Alshloul writes the Rayan books with his wife, Eslam Abujaber, for their own children — and for every parent who has filmed a toddler's first sujud and wished there were more books that felt like that moment. Every book ends with a short page for grown-ups: the value in the story, and one small way to live it that week.

And still being written, one story at a time: