Note: This is a genuine review, the authors & publication are not even aware of it while I am writing it. These are purely my thoughts on the book as a homeschooling Mother :)
Yak in the Back is Level 2 of Islamic Phonics Readers
The writers of this book are: Karemah Alhark & Jamila Alqarnain #Sisters.
It is illustrated by Khadijah Amatur-Raheem, Najla Amatur-Raheem & Jamila Alqarnain
It has been published by Noon Publications.
Paperback book is sold for $8.99 on Amazon and $8 on Khadijah Inspired
About paper & page quality
42 pages + 4 empty pages in the end.
Colorful. Not super thick but not a thin paper either. Not a glossy paper.
Four Stories in the book
Yak in the Back
Jen's Hens
Pop and Tots
Bugs
Before each story there is a page with vocabulary & sight words list which are covered in the following story.
Nice beautiful big pictures. Only two or three lines per page, some have even just one line - which makes it interesting for kids and doesn't overwhelm them.
Again, small words and big font make it easier for new readers. Words like Eid and God are also integrated in the stories.
Illustrations are representing Muslims - wearing kufi or hijab or making dua.
It does have human and animal illustrations. Also human illustrations with facial features.
Light and dark both skins are showed - making kids more aware and accepting of differences.
Now that we have covered the facts, lets head to me opinion of the book i.e. my review.
I personally really like this book especially since it is focused towards Muslim audience. It is a blessing to not have to worry about what all ideas and images our little kids will be exposed to while just learning to read. From kids properly dressed to reference of events and occasions my kids can actually relate to, this book gets 10 out of 10. I personally prefer books without human features but I understand that it is a matter where there is leniency by scholars, so I am not going to forbid such a great resource to my kids because it is made by Muslims and still has human features. While we have 100 other kids books laying around in the home authored by non-Muslims filled with facial features and all kind of unnecessary stuff and we are fine with it. We should hold ourselves to high standards that's Ihsan but when it comes to others - other Muslim authors who are genuinely putting time, effort and energy to provide such resources for our children we should make matters easy for them and not be judgemental. Imagine people making big fuss of such a thing and not buying such resources, that is purely being ungrateful for the blessing of having such an option! Imagine back in the day when we didn't even have such options and we would have to pick from "lesser of the two evils" for phonics books, etc. #BeGrateful #SupportMuslimAuthors
My 4.5 year old flied over this book in one sitting (ma sha ALLAH) after just finishing a Muslim Phonics Kindergarten curriculum. It really helped her in gaining confidence in her reading - alhamdulillah.
I hope you benefitted from this post (in sha ALLAH)
Share it, spread the khair.
Review by Umm Ruqaiya