AUTHOR: Hena Khan
ILLUSTRATOR: Aaliya Jaleel
“...Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns magnificently captures the world of Islam, celebrating its beauty and traditions for even the youngest readers. From a red prayer rug to a blue hijab, readers will learn about a different color of the Muslim world on each spread with a young Muslim girl and her family as a guide…”
CHRONICAL BOOKS
REVIEW
I love Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns; it is one of those books that is just chock-a-block full of goodness and learning opportunities across multiple age groups. What sets 'Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns' apart is its ability to serve both as an educational tool and a celebration of diversity. It not only introduces children to the concept of colors but also provides a window into the rich cultural heritage of the Muslim community.
Khan’s text is lyrical and rhyming, with a focus on colours and peppered with vocabulary associated with cultural heritage of the Muslim community. The glossary at the back of the book offers a translation and definition of unfamiliar words (worth looking at before you read the book to children).
Jaleel’s illustrations are sumptuous, each page spread captures varying hues and tones of a specific colour along with the cultural significance. The details take the reader on a journey to bustling marketplaces, serene mosques, and family celebrations in a landscape that might be new to many children.
Learning about other cultures and communities ties-in predominantly to social sustainability. By embracing multiculturalism, we foster inclusivity, respect, and understanding among children. This helps create cohesive communities where everyone feels valued and accepted, leading to social harmony and stability.
ACTIVITY IDEAS
Date Taste: The child in the book says dates are her favourite treat. Discuss favourite treat food with the children. Allow them to sample a fresh date. Encourage them to explore the date through their senses - colour, smell, taste, texture (in their mouth), half a date is probably enough. The fresh dates from the fruit and veg section are the nicest. Remember to remove the seed/pit.
Henna Hands: Getting a henna design in your hands is a special occasion activity for many children in the middle east. Henna stains the skins (generally orange, brown or black) and can last for a month or two. Eyebrow pencils or face painting pencils offer a safe removable alternative. Study the hands in the picture, you will see that they have the same design. Allow the children to design on a partners hands. A circle in the middle often helps get them started. For older children you could add the challenge of following their partners verbal instructions for the design. Drawing on the back of the hand is much easier and less likely to rub off than on the palm.
Colour Walk or Discussion: Look at the colours in the book and ask the children what they can find in their environment of the same colour. Think about how colours make the children feel or what they remind them of. Offer some ideas like “yellow makes me happy because lots of m y favourite things are yellow, like sunflowers, bees, mango and the sun”. “Silver reminds me of Christmas because I have a silver Christmas tree”
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