I have some exciting and thrilling news to share with you all. Along with my sister, we have published our first ever book on Amazon, a delightful and colourful children’s book dedicated to my sister’s youngest daughter and my niece. This also marks my sister’s debut as a children’s book author.
“Maliyah’s First Day at Madrasa” is a sweet and charming book aimed at children aged from five to ten years of age and invites readers to join a little girl who is soon to start her first day at a madrasa, a school where Muslim children go to learn about their religion and to gain knowledge in the Holy Qur’an and the Arabic alphabet. The titular character, who loves stars and the warmth and love of her parents, is nervous about her first day, wondering whether she will have a strict teacher or if she will make new friends. Join her as she meets her teacher for the first time, makes a lovely new friend in class and begins her journey to learn more about Islam. The book vividly brings to life Maliyah’s emotions and thoughts as she navigates this very monumental part of her life and explores a new world with new faces and experiences to encounter. The bright and colourful illustrations are guaranteed to fire up children’s imaginations and enhance their curiosity as they embark on a gentle journey of discovery and compassion with little Maliyah.
Written in child-friendly English and with full-page illustrations, Maliyah’s First Day at Madrasa is the perfect story for Muslim children to prepare themselves for beginning their Islamic studies and for non-Muslim children to understand a key moment in the lives of their Muslim peers. The book makes a perfect addition to children’s home libraries or for schools, public libraries and bookstores looking to diversify their range of children’s books for today’ multicultural and multi-faith audiences.
There is a paucity of children’s books in English based on Muslim children and their experiences, which makes this book ideal for Muslim parents who are looking for titles that their children can relate to. The story also helps children themselves understand and relate to the experience and emotions of beginning their first day at Islamic school.
Alia Bachell is a devoted mother-of-three and newly minted author, and “Maliyah’s First Day at Madrasa” is her first published book. She is passionate about writing children’s books that inspire curiosity, kindness, and cultural understanding. She enjoys creating stories that resonate with young readers and their families, weaving in valuable lessons and joyful adventures. When she is not writing, she looks forward to spending time with her children, exploring the outdoors, and sharing bedtime stories that spark imagination and dreams. Her goal as an author is to create cherished memories for parents and children, fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning through her books.
Her first book was inspired by her youngest child, Maliyah, and her real-life first day experiences of starting her Islamic studies at a local madrasa. Maliyah had many questions and thoughts about her first day, and this inspired Alia to bring life to this book, so that other children could have something to help reassure them and answer their questions.
Working on this book was a heartfelt journey with I and my sister collaborating closely and spending many hours to polish and make this cute book a reality. We began putting the story together only two weeks ago, with my sister penning the words and us both sourcing illustrations using AI alongside regular meetings to plan out and construct the book. I created the front cover and the book layout using a design tool called Canva, and we opted to self-publish using the Amazon KDP service, the most popular self-publishing platform for new authors and writers.
Maliyah’s First Day at Madrasa was launched officially on the 17th of June 2024 and is now available for purchase on Amazon marketplaces for £13.89 in paperback, and there is also an ebook version available too.
Would you like to join Maliyah in her special journey to discover an important part of her identity? Order your copy of Maliyah’s First Day at Madrasa now at the following Amazon link: https://amzn.eu/d/057lMG85
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