Fatima Al Fihri

WomanKind is a Historical biography series for children featuring Muslim women who changed the world. The first book in this series tells the true story of FATIMA AL FIHRI, the remarkable woman who created the world’s first University. Located in Fez, Morocco, The University of Al-Qarawiyyin is recognised by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest existing university on earth.

Fatima Al Fihri is a beautifully illustrated book aimed at young readers and tells the story of the creation of the world’s first University, the University of Al-Qarawiyyin. This book, named after the university’s founder, is a brilliant way to bring lesser-known history to the forefront and celebrate it.

The first part of a larger series focusing on Muslim women who made history, this book reminded me of the ‘Fantastically Great Women’ series and I think it is an amazing way to share history with younger children. 

The bright full-page illustrations and easy to follow text tell of how Fatima Al Fihri shared her love of education by creating a space at her mosque where anyone of any faith could come to learn. On the final page, there's a summary of facts about the University. I think that this book is a great starting point for children to then go on to learn more about Fatima or to learn more about the other figures as the series continues. 

• ISBN13: 9781838000806
• Publication Date: 10-10-2020
• Format: Paperback