Loving Letters: An Islamic Alphabet

By Riad Nourallah, Illustrated by Harriet Dell, Amana Publications, 1995, 30 pp. List: $12.50 AET: $9.00.

Reviewed by Michael S. Lee

Loving Letters: An Islamic Alphabet is a charming book of ABCs for younger children, but also with artwork which will appeal to older children, as well as adults. Each letter of the alphabet is presented with a beautiful full-color illustration of something within Islam corresponding to that particular letter, as well as a short poem bringing each concept to life for the reader. As an example, the letter A is represented by the word “Allah,” complemented by a short poem which reads, “Allah is God, the Loving God, the One Who made the Earth, the streams of stars, the moon, and Man, and blesses every birth.” The accompanying illustration depicts a stylized letter A, a sea of stars in a dark sky, along with a large grouping of animals and plants, signifying Allah’s many blessings.

The book continues along these lines throughout the alphabet, providing the reader with an enchanted journey through the concepts of Islam and the many blessings of God. The artwork was done “by a gifted Cambridge [England]-based artist,” with the poetic text written by “a UK-based academic and creative writer in both English and Arabic with a special interest in children’s literature.”

Adding to its appeal for older readers are two glossaries of English and Arabic words at the end of the book.

Michael S. Lee is director of the AET Book Club.