CCBC Booklists

CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.

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Journey of the Midnight Sun

by Shazia Afzal

CCBC Review:

When a Muslim community in Inuvik, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, outgrows its makeshift house of worship, a new mosque is delivered from the other end of the country. The Midnight Sun mosque is built in Winnipeg and loaded onto a truck to begin its 4,470-kilometer journey across Canada. Along the way, many people assist in the passage of such a wide load: moving road signs, directing traffic, lifting power lines, widening bridges, and sharing the road. The mosque arrives at the Hay River in time to board the final barge of the season, which will carry the Midnight Sun the last 1,800 kilometers to its destination. In Inuvik, the mosque receives its final touches. A carpenter travels there to build a minaret, and the people of Inuvik paint the interior walls and furnish the building with care. When the work is complete, the entire community—Muslims, Christians, Gwich’in First Nation Elders, and others—comes together to celebrate with a feast. A muted palette and clean art style accompany the straightforward narrative of a great feat of cooperation and community support. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Illustrated by Aliya Ghare

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-6
Age Range: Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3) PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format: Picture book
Subjects: Building/Construction Community Cooperation Faith, Spirituality and Religion Muslim People Vehicles and Transportation
Diversity subject: Multicultural General Muslim
On CCBC Booklist: Small Town and Rural Life: Selected Books for Children and Teens

Publisher: Orca
Publish Year: 2022
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781459817608
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Afzal

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