Writing for Muslim Children: An Author's Guide to Representation

Want to write picture books for Muslim children? Around one in ten school-age children in England and Wales is Muslim, and they rarely see themselves on the page.

This short, practical guide is for authors and illustrators who want to create books for Muslim children, whether you're Muslim yourself or writing Muslim characters with care. It's written by children's publisher Sajeda Faraz, built on her MA research at Bath Spa University and updated with the latest 2026 data.

Inside the guide

• Why it matters: mirrors, windows and what a book's absence teaches every child.
• The numbers: the latest UK and US figures from CLPE's Reflecting Realities, the Cooperative Children's Book Center, BookTrust and the Publishers Association, and what they leave out.
• Why the gap persists: five findings from my research, and what they mean for your writing and your pitch.
• Presence isn't representation: tropes to retire and what to aim for instead.
• Writing and illustrating with care: authenticity checklists for writers and illustrators.
• How to pitch a Muslim story to any list: hook, comparison titles, readers, moments and reach.
• Where your readers are: the routes and moments that reach Muslim families, with full sources.

Format: 9-page instant PDF download.

Want the full picture of how publishing works and how to sell your book? See the Inside Children's Publishing Toolkit.