Craft Book Review from Ruqaya's Bookshelf
Alhamdulillah, all the way from Canada, Sr Asmaa founder of Ruqaya's Bookshelf has just published her review for 'Craft it up this Ramadan and Eid'. This is what she had to say;
"Ramadan, followed by Eid is a special time to cherish with your family and friends. Some of my best memories are with my parents and siblings as we sat around the table for iftar and suhoor meals, or our long nights at the mosque for taraweeh. We had special meals, special duas and special visitors all throughout the month.
Our Ramadan traditions are ongoing and have stayed with me to the point w here I associate Ramadan with these special moments. Now as a mother, I often think about what kind of traditions I want to have in place for my daughter to make Ramadan and Eid memorable and special, even before she completely understands the worship aspect of this month.
This is why Zayneb Abdullatif’s book is such a welcome addition to my library. She focuses on craft projects that are related to Ramadan and Eid so that both adults and kids can build their own personalized and memorable traditions.
From “good deed sticks” that remind you to incorporate good deeds into your everyday, to “Sideeqa the sheep,” a cute sheep-shaped bank to collect money to give in charity.
The crafts are simple enough for a six year old child to either do on her own or with some moderate adult supervision. The directions are clear and the photography is crisp and attractive. The author also fills the book with great tips and ideas on how to incorporate Islamic concepts into the craft-making.
Whether you’re a parent or a teacher at a local Islamic school, this book is chock-full of creative and hassle-free ideas to get your kids using their imaginations positively to give gifts & charity and do simple good deeds. The great thing about these crafts is that they don’t necessarily have to end after Ramadan is over – doing good deeds and giving charity and gifts to others are definitely not Ramadan-only goals!
I’ve recently been bitten by the do it yourself (DIY) bug. Sometimes I see things that I want my daughter to have, but they are either too expensive for me to buy or I want to tailor them to certain Islamic learning objectives. But lots of DIY projects come with a hefty price tag…
However, Craft it Up really focuses on using recyclable and reusable materials that you most likely already have lying around your house. The book employs good old toilet paper rolls, cotton balls, school glue, clay, egg cartons, newspaper, old buttons, cardboard boxes and popsicle sticks, just to name a few.
It’s good old fashioned fun for kids, with an Islamic twist."
Jazakillahu Khairan <3
