When I entered the world of Muslim children's books, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there are a lot more Muslim authored books out there now, compared to when my kids were young. However, unfortunately, these books are not readily available in Scottish bookstores. I started the Islamic Book Fair of Scotland in 2023 because I wanted to fill this gap on our bookshelves. I wanted a place where Muslim children would have the joy of walking into a bookstore filled with stories that represent them. This positive association, both with reading and their identities is exactly what will make our kids both confident readers and confident Muslims Insha Allah.
What started as a small dream has grown into an anchor event in Scotland's Muslim calendar alhamdulillah. We now have over 100 Muslim-authored titles from all over the world featured each year, from baby board books to Young Adult novels. The day includes lots of other bookish fun, like an author visit and story-writing competitions. I am so grateful to the authors, publishers, and, of course, community members who come together to make this event the success that it is. If you are an author that would like to have their book featured at the next book fair, follow our dedicated Instagram page to stay up-to-date on the application process. You can also download our event brochures from the last two years. These are completely free and include details of all the books featured for each age category, a great resource for parents and educators.
The Islamic Book Fair of Scotland is a volunteer-run event, and as such, we are always on the lookout for enthusiastic, bookish people who want to be a part of this fantastic day. We can offer official volunteering hours where needed. Rumour has it, you might even walk away with a FREE book or two on the day! Get in touch if you would like to join our team for the next round.
Whether you have a question about my books, the Islamic Book Fair of Scotland, or your own writing journey, I’d love to hear from you.
