Charlotte Mason emphasises the importance of well-written and inspiring books, or ‘Living Books’. Parents find themselves scrambling for recommendations and booklists for their children’s subjects. When we get to history, the book search becomes even harder. Not because we can’t find decent books, but there are so many to choose from, it’s difficult to know which books will suit our family values. As Muslim parents, we need books which portray other than the Western world’s view of history.
Scroll down to find the book list of children’s Islamic history books I recommend!
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How to read like Charlotte Mason
The Charlotte Mason method places living books as its central focus when educating children. When they cannot read a book for themselves, it should be read aloud to them. In exposing children to a nutritious diet of elegant literature and wholesome prose, they can absorb knowledge and maintain it.
By gradually reading decent books, children develop knowledge and intelligence by making important connections in the material they are exposed to. The beauty of Charlotte Mason’s approach to education lies in its simplicity. Being exposed to a superb selection of books is all your child needs for an enjoyable and successful education.
How to choose Charlotte-Mason-approved books
One of the most common questions when starting the Charlotte Mason method is: “What is a living book?”
A living book is a book which is:
- well-written
- provides children with new ideas
- a book your child finds enjoyable
- inspiring and impacts the reader
- literary in style, where possible. (However, they do not always have to be stories)
Now, this is why it is often difficult to narrow down a solid list of living books; because it will look different for every child. Where one child may find the ‘Just So Stories’ by Rudyard Kipling delightful and entertaining, another child might find them boring and difficult to understand.
However, well-written books are easier to identify among the bookshelves in a store or library. Finding living books is a skill you develop over time, so try not to get too overwhelmed in the early stages.
Does Charlotte Mason include Islamic history?
When researching the Charlotte Mason book lists, it can be easy to assume the history curriculum doesn’t favour an Islamic look at history. Some of the books appear to favour an Anglo-Saxon version of events, complete with the wonder of the British Empire and the valiant efforts of the crusaders.
However, it is important to remember that the Charlotte Mason approach is an educational philosophy, not a boxed-and-ready curriculum. You don’t have to purchase the book lists from her schools in order to benefit from her teaching advice. There is an entire world of published books to embrace, so feel free to go out for yourself and find books which suit your children and your family.
Living books inspire children, preferably in a literary way. We can easily apply this principle to Islamic books and tailor our history lessons to suit our Islamic values. Remember, we’re not looking for textbooks, and we’re not looking for books which display disjointed facts and condensed learning objectives.
Reading and your Book of Centuries
As well as living books, a Book of Centuries will prove to be an invaluable resource. After reading a passage from a history book, help your children find the correct timeline page. They can write or draw something to represent what they heard when you were reading. Find out more about using a Book of Centuries here:
RELATED: Muslim Homeschool Curriculum – How to Use a Book of Centuries.
The Our Muslim Homeschool Book of Centuries comes with the added bonus of extra pages during the timeline of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. This gives you space to dedicate extra details to that important period and dive into the lifetime of the prophet in fun and engaging way. It also includes a timeline featuring some important dates in Islamic history from 570CE – 1924CE. Purchase yours here [link to the Amazon listing].
Like most history lessons, it can be difficult to keep the seerah engaging for your children. By using a Book of Centuries, your child can actively engage with the stories and decide for themselves what to include in their book. For more information and guidance on keeping your seerah lessons fun and engaging, check out this post [insert blog post link here]? the seerah one is not published yet.
Book list of Islamic History Books for Kids
If you need a book list to get you started, check out my list of recommended reading for history:
101 Seerah Stories and Dua by Goodword (Ages 3-8)
Lore of Light: 1 by Hajjah Amina Adil
The Muqaddimah – An Introduction to History by Ibn Khaldun (Ages 16+)
A Journey Through Islamic History: A Timeline of Key Events by Yasminah Hashim (All Ages)
The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Leila Azzam and Aisha Gouverneur (Primary school)
The Age of Bliss Series by Tughra Books (Ages 9-12)
The Leadership and Legacy Curriculum by Rabata (All Ages)
CLICK HERE
Muhammad: His Life Based on Earliest Sources by Martin Lings (Ages 16+)
Muhammad Messenger to Mankind by Nur al-Din ‘Itr and Usman Ali (Secondary School)
Muhammad the best of creation: A glimpse of his blessed life by Sayyid Muhammad Ibn al-Alawi al-Maliki and Amjad Mahmood (Ages 16+)
A Philosophy of Education (The Home Education Series) by Charlotte M Mason (For parents)
Amazon UK | USA
Your ideal homeschool
Home education gives you the freedom to choose the topics important to you and your family. The Charlotte Mason method is particularly useful for this. The focus isn’t on the subjects you study, but how you present them to your children. Using the books above, a Book of Centuries, and a relaxed approach, you can make history lessons meaningful and enjoyable for you AND your children!
Related: Homeschool History Curriculum | Islamic & British CLICK HERE
How to Start Homeschooling UK
Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
I teach you how to craft a curriculum for your homeschool, how to choose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family. Whether you are homeschooling in the UK, or elsewhere in the world, this programme will help you give your children an incredible education at home.
I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to know to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!
Interested?
Launch Your Homeschool enrolment is currently closed.
Doors open Summer 2022, insha’Allah.
JOIN THE WAITING LIST Here: https://ourmuslimhomeschool.com/courses
Peace and love,
