The Baobab Basket

Aliya is a 12 year old African – American Muslim girl. She, her parents, her two brothers and her younger sister live in Washington, D.C., 2005. Aliya‘s active family life is woven together with Islamic and African threads and values. The book captures your attention from the start as the reader is swept into the daily life of a typical American Muslim family. The first in a series of books, the Baobab Basket is a 120 page novel for young people (ages 6-13).

Aliya is a 12 year old African–American Muslim girl. She, her parents, her two brothers and her younger sister live in Washington, D.C., 2005. Aliya‘s active family life is woven together with Islamic and African threads and values. The Baobab Basket captures your attention from the start as the reader is swept into the daily life of a typical American Muslim family. The first in a series of books, the Baobab Basket is a 120 page novel for young people (ages 6-13).

The story foregoes the usual drama, focusing instead on several important issues. Mostly, the characters themselves will invite you in, make you feel comfortable and welcome you as they allow you a glimpse in to the sometimes allusive home life of Muslim American families.

What makes this book different?

To date, there have been very few chapter books about Muslim families in America. I have never seen any books at all about African – American Muslim families. As an American convert to Islam who has raised children and been a part of the Muslim community for many years, I was able to capture in this story the common experiences of Muslim children growing up in America. This story is a warm–hearted book that both educates and entertains. Readers will be surprised to find that the gap between religions and cultures in America is much smaller than they may have imagined. Readers of all faiths will be able to relate to this story and learn some things that may break down barriers that divide Americans simply because of misinformation and prejudices.

There is a void in that the United States has only a scarce sampling of literature for children that features Muslim family life. After the events of September 11th and now with the war in Iraq there has been much interest in Islam and the difference between extremist Muslims and everyday Muslims living here in America. This chapter book will educate non-Muslims about Islam, and introduce the practices and lifestyle of Muslim family life in a subtle, and very accessible way. It will also provide the millions of Muslim families in America a fiction book to which they can relate, and that they can enjoy.

The book is organized into five chapters that correspond to the five prayers that Muslims complete throughout the day. Each chapter takes place with the prayer at its core and works to subtly and naturally depict the everyday life of African-American Muslims, revealing aspects of both African-American culture as well as Islam. I am aware that "prayer" is a loaded word and that it has the potential to offend people, much like when a writer/speaker brings politics into a neutral forum. In order to stay true to all Muslim family life, I feel that it is extremely important to portray the prayer times in this story and how they form the backbone of the Muslim family lifestyle. Even though there are several different sects of Islam, all Muslims pray 5 times a day if they truly practice Islam.

There will be a glossary in the back explaining the meanings of Arabic words and phrases in the book and other concepts such as "Wudu" that would not be self explanatory. There will be no direct discussion about why Muslims pray, what they say in the prayer, or any other religious talk (aside from everyday phrases like Insha Allah, etc.). Readers will be able to infer these aspects through the story itself. Readers will also have a clear perspective on how race and religion intersect in the daily lives of African-American Muslims as they confront racist and discriminatory situations resulting from pervasive stereotypes. I want to keep the situations small and lightly felt in the story. I've included a reasonable amount of honest dialogue about these heavy and complicated topics, hopefully striking a balance between reality and responsibility toward the fact that this is a book written for children between the ages of 8-13. As readers follow the characters over several days, they become enveloped in the life of this African-American Muslim family and learn to see them and their community as another patch in the quilt of American life.

The Baobab basket is currently being edited and revised. Please feel free to email me if you would like to know more about the book or have any questions. I am looking forward to using the book as a way of opening dialog and initiating important conversations. I am available for speaking engagements upon request.