Books with Muslim characters for primary school children

Can Maysa and Musa solve the mystery of who destroyed the competition cookies? Relatable and funny, this is a story about everyday family life, with a gentle mystery and a BIG lie at the heart of it. 

Planet Omar has all of the everyday life family drama and silly humour of Tom Gates and Sam Wu, and it’s wonderful to read a funny book for kids featuring a Muslim family.

At the heart of this amusing diary-style novel is the story of Yusuf – a little boy who is sad that his beloved big sister is leaving home, perhaps especially so because Affa has been his closest support in a single parent household. Readable, relatable and accessible to all.

Layla’s first week at her new school isn’t going well – she’s the only child there to wear a Muslim headscarf, and she’s already been suspended for fighting back against a bully. Can Layla win the robotics competition and prove what she’s made of? This laugh out loud story is about making friends, finding your way in the world, and is a great introduction to thinking about the barriers that people of colour can face. 

A beautifully illustrated book packed with information about incredible Muslimswho’ve made an impact on the world. Covering centuries of history and different countries across the world, this will appeal to fans of real-life stories. 

Nimra battles to understand her interpretation of Islam and whether it allows her to sing in a band or not. It is refreshing to find a book written by an author who understands the complexity of relationships between three generations from a Muslim immigrant heritage. 

Yasmin is the quiet one in a really loud family, until Levi the magic toy llama comes along and forces everyone to listen to her.

Fifteen stories of joy, showcasing the Eid traditions of kindness, generosity and delicious food that many Muslim families follow. A book to treasure, for readers from every walk of life.

This is a classic detective adventure with a very up-to-date attitude, which children will love for all the same reasons their parents loved the Famous Five and Nancy Drew, but which also provides positive role models and a realistic picture of today’s society.

Focussing on the experiences of a small group of individuals, Safiyyah’s story shines a spotlight on an under-recognised pocket of resistance from World War II when hundreds of Jews were led to safety via underground passages from the Grand Mosque in Paris.

This is the incredible true story of Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman who spied for Britain during the Second World War. Noor is written by Sufiya Ahmed as a brave and fiercely impassioned young woman, painting her life with meticulous detail and a realistic first person voice.

When a terrorist attack happens at a local concert, Muslim schoolgirl Aaliyah finds herself and her family the target of racist bullying and abuse. Can she fight back against the tide of hatred?

This is the real life story of one of the most incredible and inspirational young people in the world. Reading this book might just change the way you think and feel.