2018 School Spending Survey Report
One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University
HarperCollins.
Feb. 2022.
40p.
Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780063032910.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2-5–This is a beautiful new biography about Fatima al-Fihri, and the university she founded in Morocco. In simple but flowing prose, Yuksel brings al-Fihri’s story from the ninth century to the present, weaving a tale of faith and charity through the “one wish” she had, to establish a school for all. Quraishi’s illustrations are sweet and subtle—the juxtaposed end papers show al-Fihri’s lasting legacy, and the use of a similar fabric on her headdress and in the garments of scholars in the future is a heartwarming touch. This is a well-crafted picture book biography, especially given that so little is known of al-Fihri’s early years. The focus on her legacy, as well as the back matter with time lines and translations, is a strong pull for readers.
VERDICT 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.
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