Muslims believe that Allah loves beauty so much that he created a world that abounds with countless examples of it. We live in a sense-luscious realm where we can freely explore the many forms of beauty. Hena Khan has written an awe-inspiring children's book for youngsters age 4 - 7 about the colors that are part of a young Muslim girl's everyday life.

Beginning with the red of the prayer mat her father uses five times a day as he faces Mecca through the silver of a shiny lantern that glows at night, the rich and captivating illustrations by Mehrdokht Amini make this one of the Best Children's Books of 2012. Other glints and hints of beauty are revealed in her mother's blue hijab (head-covering), the gold dome of the mosque, the white kufi (rounded cap) worn by her grandfather, the black ink she uses to spell out Allah in Arabic letters, the brown color of dates, the orange color of the henna designs on her hands, the purple color of an Eid (an Islamic holiday) gift, the yellow color of the Zakat box used for charity, and the green cover of the Quran which she reads diligently.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Kahn is a very special book to treasure given the beauty and the elegance of the text and the illustrations. There also is a glossary at the back defining Islamic terms. This book would be a great gift — a wonderful reminder of the riches of their tradition for Muslims and an excellent introduction to Islamic culture for other children.