One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World's Oldest University
(Hardback)
Publishing Details
One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World's Oldest University
By (Author) M. O. Yuksel
Illustrated by Mariam Quraishi
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
HarperCollins
10th February 2023
United States
Classifications
Children
Non Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Islam
Childrens / Teenage general interest: History and the past
813.6
Physical Properties
Hardback
40
Width 229mm, Height 279mm
404g
Description
A Horn Book selection for "Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month 2022
Fatima had one wish . . .
Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors.
As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatimas one wishher schoolserved students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today!
With lyrical text by M. O. Yuksel (author ofIn My Mosque) and stunning illustrations by MariamQuraishi, this true-life portrait of an extraordinary Muslim woman shows the importance of never giving up on yourdreams and how we all have the power to change the world for the better.
AN ALA 2023 RISE: A FEMINIST BOOK PROJECT SELECTION!
A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2022!
AN ORBIS PICTUS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NONFICTION FOR CHILDREN RECOMMENDED BOOK!
A 2023 NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES BOOK!
"This is a well-crafted picture book biography, especially given that so little is known of al-Fihris early years. The focus on her legacy, as well as the back matter with time lines and translations, is a strong pull for readers. Who could not love a book about a girl whose first spoken word was read Add this biography to any collection looking to be well rounded when it comes to womens history."School Library Journal, starred review
An inspiring profile of a tenacious trailblazer that highlights the power of knowledge. Quraishis transporting gouache-and-watercolor illustrations furnish a nuanced portrayal of the early medieval Arab world. Kirkus
"Advocating for persistence and education, this picture book adroitly demonstrates how al-Fihris Muslim faith inspired her community care." Publishers Weekly
"In a text rich with imagery, Yuksel (In My Mosque) tells the true story of Fatima al-Fihri, whose one wish was to build a school for all. The illustrations develop their own visual language. A welcome story that emphasizes the intellectual foundations of Islamic North Africa and the importance of charitable work that plants seeds for subsequent generations." Horn Book
Reviews
This is a well-crafted picture book biography, especially given that so little is known of al-Fihris early years. The focus on her legacy, as well as the back matter with time lines and translations, is a strong pull for readers. Who could not love a book about a girl whose first spoken word was read Add this biography to any collection looking to be well rounded when it comes to womens history. School Library Journal (starred review) An inspiring profile of a tenacious trailblazer that highlights the power of knowledge. Quraishis transporting gouache-and-watercolor illustrations furnish a nuanced portrayal of the early medieval Arab world. Kirkus Reviews Advocating for persistence and education, this picture book adroitly demonstrates how al-Fihris Muslim faith inspired her community care. Publishers Weekly In a text rich with imagery, Yuksel (In My Mosque) tells the true story of Fatima al-Fihri, whose one wish was to build a school for all. The illustrations develop their own visual language. A welcome story that emphasizes the intellectual foundations of Islamic North Africa and the importance of charitable work that plants seeds for subsequent generations. Horn Book Magazine
Author Bio
M. O. Yuksel has attend many mosques around the world, from Turkey to Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan to Malaysia, Canada, and the United States, and is passionate about sharing the unique architecture and personality of each, as well as the feeling of serenity, peace and hospitality that is common to them all. She lives in New Jersey, USA, with her husband and three sons. Visit her online at www.moyuksel.com.
