Elizabeth Lymer

Islamic Nursery Rhymes Elizabeth Lymer

Islamic Nursery Rhymes is an endearing collection of nursery rhymes for young children to learn about the beautiful ways of Islam in a lovely experience of singing with their parents and elders. The rhymes in the book are traditional nursery rhymes reworded with timeless Islamic meaning. For example, 'Oranges and Lemons' is an historical rhyme about ringing the bells of East London churches as a man made his journey to his execution - and the version here, entitled 'Assalam Alaykum', is about mosques in East London spreading salaam (peace) and news of prayer time. The illustrations by Fatimah De Vaux Davies are attractive and highly detailed (yet faceless) to delight children and engage their interest in the actions of practicing Muslims. For example, one illustration depicts Muslims gathering around a large Qur'an that is spilling out light. In another, Muslims are performing ritual prayers upon the earth, while boats sail, and airplanes and rockets fly. These beautiful Islamic nursery rhymes can be used as songful remembrance of Allah as a resource for developing pre-recitation skills before reading the Qur'an.