I had promised a review on Princess Siyana’s Pen a while back – here it is!
Great for Eid gifts perhaps?! 😉
“This recently published picture book is a keeper! With beautiful colour-rich illustrations and a gripping story line to boot, it is sure to captivate young and old readers alike – I know I certainly wanted to know what happened. 🙂
The story follows the tried and tested formula of many fairy tales, and so in essence will be familiar to children – however, there are morals and values infused within every page, adding that oh-so-special Islamic essence. Princes Siyana is a captivating main character, who charms as well as leads through example and character; her bravery and courage makes her a great role-model for all our children, but our daughters in particular. Shargor is the typical evil villain, with a plot to gain power and riches, impoverishing others as he does. And I love the touch of the side-kick, Pepe the parrot, who adds light humour to it all! It is clear that Zainab has drawn on her own experiences to write this story, which makes it all the more personal and endearing.
As the story progresses, several concepts are touched upon in a subtle way – talking to Allah through the heart as well as the pen, hijab and the importance of inner beauty, trusting in Allah, kindness, helping others and forgiveness, amongst others. All in all, with these concepts weaved in to an adventure story with remarkable characters, Princess Siyana makes an ideal book for our children’s bookshelves.”