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One Wish is a picture book biography about Fatima al-Fihri, a 9th-century woman who pioneered the oldest university in the world in Fez, Morocco. Illustrated by Mariam Quraishi.
"Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors.
As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatima’s one wish—her school—served students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today!
With lyrical text by M. O. Yuksel and stunning illustrations by Mariam Quraishi, this life portrait of an extraordinary Muslim woman shows the importance of never giving up on your dreams and how we all have the power to change the world for the better." - HarperCollins Publisher
Awards & Honors:
National Council for Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Book
American Library Association 2023 Rise Honoree
CBC National Council for Social Studies 2023 Notable Social Studies Book
School Library Journal Best Nonfiction 2022 - SLJ Best Books
Nerdy Book Club Award for Best Nonfiction Picture Book
Chicago Public Library 2022 Top Staff Picks
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year 2023
Reviews:
"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." - The HornBook
A HornBook selection for "Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month 2022"
Chicago Public Library Biographies for Children Staff Pick
ONE WISH featured in:
Click here for resources and activities.
"Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors.
As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatima’s one wish—her school—served students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today!
With lyrical text by M. O. Yuksel and stunning illustrations by Mariam Quraishi, this life portrait of an extraordinary Muslim woman shows the importance of never giving up on your dreams and how we all have the power to change the world for the better." - HarperCollins Publisher
Awards & Honors:
National Council for Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Book
American Library Association 2023 Rise Honoree
CBC National Council for Social Studies 2023 Notable Social Studies Book
School Library Journal Best Nonfiction 2022 - SLJ Best Books
Nerdy Book Club Award for Best Nonfiction Picture Book
Chicago Public Library 2022 Top Staff Picks
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year 2023
Reviews:
"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." - The HornBook
A HornBook selection for "Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month 2022"
Chicago Public Library Biographies for Children Staff Pick
ONE WISH featured in:
- The Horn Book Magazine: "Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month 2022"
- Kirkus Magazine: "6 Children's Books That Illuminate Women's History"
- BookPage Magazine: "Uplifting Picture Books for Women's History Month," and "Tidal Forces: Get Inspired by Three Women Who Changed the World by Helping Others"
- International Literacy Association, The Reading Teacher: Exploring the Purposes of Backmatter in Nonfiction Picture Books for Children: A Typology
- School Library Journal, The Classroom Shelf: One Woman's Legacy: Teaching Ideas for One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World's Oldest University
Click here for resources and activities.
