M.O. Yuksel

Author • Educator • Speaker

M.O. Yuksel

Author • Educator • Speaker

M.O. Yuksel

Author • Educator • Speaker

Praise & Awards

This personable, sensory love letter to a range of children’s mosque experiences will engage new learners and resonate with those already familiar. Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
This marvelous, welcoming book on mosques, Muslims, and Islam is a must, offering foundational knowledge on the world’s second largest religion. School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Young readers are welcomed to a mosque brimming with faithful family, friends, and community. Both text and art convey some tenets of Islam and emphasize the mosque’s role as a place for faith and celebration. Horn Book
Joyful characters describe what happens in simple, poetic language. Both a celebration of and an introduction to the mosque. Kirkus Reviews
Joyful celebration of mosques around the world. Themes of family and friendship prevail, along with references to spirituality. Providence Journal
In My Mosque draws readers into the Muslim house of worship to show how it is so much more than a place to pray. . . Aly’s illustrations echo the warmth of Yuksel’s text, depicting loving, happy communities, rich in diversity of all sorts. The striking use of geometric patterns found in Islamic art and architecture might inspire classroom art projects to complement a narrative study of houses of worship. Booklist

Awards and Honors

Who could not love a book about a girl whose first spoken word was “read”? Add this biography to any collection looking to be well rounded when it comes to women’s history. School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
An inspiring profile of a tenacious trailblazer that highlights the power of knowledge. Quraishi’s transporting gouache-and-watercolor illustrations furnish a nuanced portrayal of the early medieval Arab world. Kirkus Reviews
Advocating for persistence and education, this picture book adroitly demonstrates how al-Fihri’s Muslim faith inspired her community care. Publishers Weekly ​​
A welcome story that emphasizes the intellectual foundations of Islamic North Africa and the importance of charitable work that plants seeds for subsequent generations. Horn Book

Awards and Honors

An exceptionally warm and illuminating celebration. Muslim children around the world observe and celebrate Ramadan in this uplifting, joy-filled picture book. Rich in color, detail, and storytelling, Aly’s dynamic digital illustrations capture ethnically diverse Muslims of all ages coming together to pray, perform acts of kindness, and savor communal feasts. Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
A celebratory, tender picture book that reflects how the holy month of Ramadan is honored by Muslims around the world. Yuksel pairs these shared values of Ramadan with culturally specific language for loved ones and foods, reflecting the diversity of the Muslim community. Aly’s illustrations fill each page with colors and patterns that emanate excitement and care as families share meals, visit the market, gather for prayer, prepare donations, cook, and set the table together. Verdict: A beautiful follow-up to the award-winning collaboration to IN MY MOSQUE, this book reflects the diversity of Muslim communities around the world while uplifting the shared principles of the holy month of Ramadan School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Fantastic, festive, and vibrant. Yuksel’s refreshing take centers children’s experiences during Ramadan and the holiday that follows it, Eid al-Fitr. Descriptions of the children’s hunger pangs, their relief at breaking their fast, and their gratitude for their blessings perfectly capture their perspective. The author emphasizes sensory experiences, such as the smell of kofta, the sound of the call to prayers, and the cozy feeling of curling up on Abuela’s lap to read the Quran. Aly’s cheerful, energetic illustrations pair beautifully with the text to convey the joyous spirit of Ramadan, with bright colors and depictions of Islamic art and architecture. Kirkus Reviews
The collaborators behind In My Mosque cross continents and countries to celebrate Ramadan’s joys and traditions in this painstakingly detailed book. Yuksel’s sensate prose conveys specific practices and experiences, especially the wait for iftar, while Aly’s energetic illustrations draw on culturally specific Islamic art and architecture, imparting the season’s tenets and its communal feel. Publisher's Weekly

A gift to all readers! Readers who celebrate Eid al-Adha will enjoy seeing their annual tradition, while readers who do not practice Islam will get a peek into a modern way to celebrate an ancient holiday. Young readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and following the journey Sami takes with his younger sister Sara throughout the day. Adults will love to use this story as a model to broach conversations about traditions, as well as deeper themes of loss, philanthropy, and homelessness. VERDICT: An easy recommendation for all libraries. Add it to elementary and high school shelves. School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Caring and sharing drive this charming tale. Focusing on a holiday that’s less widely written about than Ramadan, Yuksel makes an important contribution, penning a story that’s both a mirror for young Muslims and a window for those unfamiliar with Muslim traditions. The message of giving generously and showing gratitude shines through. Kirkus Reviews