Saadiyah Musa introduces us to My Little Library, the first Islamic children’s book and lifestyle store in New Zealand.
The idea for My Little Library was born in 2020, shortly after the birth of our daughter, during the height of the global pandemic. My husband and I were eager to find a selection of Islamic books that she could grow to love and cherish. However, we quickly realised how challenging it was to find and purchase such books in our little corner of the world. Driven by this need, we launched My Little Library in March 2021. With the support and encouragement of our community, we gradually expanded our offerings to include books for all ages, puzzles, interactive prayer mats, and a variety of other thoughtful products. In January 2023, we took another big step by opening our retail store in Mt Roskill, Auckland—becoming the first and only physical Islamic bookstore in New Zealand. Since then, we’ve continued to grow, adding an even broader range of books and Islamic lifestyle products to our collection.
During Ramadan we have been recommending The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Eid by Eric Carle and Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (Celebrations and Festivals) by Sara Khan. Being a classic kids book, we were delighted to see the recent release of The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Eid as it speaks to muslim children on a very important celebration in Islam. Sara Khan is one the most well known authors of children’s books on Islamic topics. Her books are always colourful and packed with information for children to learn and enjoy reading about.
Over the next few months we’re looking forward to seeing Eliyas Explains What Was Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Like by Zanib Mian, which is the latest book in the Eliyas Explains series. The series always have a fun and light hearted take on important topics that engages pre-teen kids so well. The Boldest White is the latest book by USA Olympian fencer Ibtihaj Muhaamad, and carries on the stories of her family’s integration into American life through the wearing of hijab. Another anticipated new release is a book written by a local author who is also a valuable customer and friend, Arifa Afzal. Her first book, which was both written and illustrated in New Zealand, A Fine Feast is due to be launched at the New Zealand Eid Day celebrations in April 2025, at the conclusion of Ramadan. One book I wish we could get into more people’s hands is The Dua Journal by Umeda and Ashley because it’s such a handy book for children to note down their prayers and get into the habit of showing gratitude in their daily life.
A month before launching our business online, an unexpected opportunity to participate in a market day arose. At first, we hesitated. We weren’t fully prepared, and we had never been vendors at a market before. We even questioned whether there would be any interest at all, and the thought of an empty stall made us nervous. But, to our surprise, the experience exceeded all our expectations. People who had heard there would be a book stall came specifically to visit us. The community’s excitement was incredible, and we received amazing feedback.
One particularly special moment was when a young girl named Yasmine came by with her mom. She was absolutely thrilled to find a book with a little girl on the cover—named Yasmine! It was Yasmine’s Belly Button, and it reminded us of why we started this journey: to curate a collection of beautiful books that feature Muslim representation. Seeing the joy on children’s faces when they discover themselves in the stories they read is priceless. More importantly, we wanted to normalise books with characters from diverse backgrounds, reminding children that they, too, have a place in this world. I wish there was a broader selection of Islamic-themed books, both fiction and non-fiction, and especially those written specifically for teen readers.
Having a physical store has allowed us to forge deeper connections with our customers and better understand the needs of our community. As we continue to grow, our goal is to transform our space into a vibrant community hub, offering a curated selection of engaging, educational, and enjoyable books, along with Islamic lifestyle products. But more than just products, we aim to foster meaningful connections within our community. Currently, we host book clubs for children and teens, school holiday programmes and provide space for community led workshops. We’ve had a wonderful response to the community based events, so much so that My Little Library was awarded the People’s Choice Award for the Puketapapa Business Association in December 2024.
Running our specialist store in Aotearoa isn’t all easy though. Many Islamic themed books are published and distributed primarily from the UK or the USA through smaller independent publishers. As a result, the prices tend to be higher compared to those from larger mainstream publishers like Penguin or Hachette. Over the past 18 months, keeping these costs low to ensure affordability for our customers has been a significant challenge. Additionally, the expense of shipping books to New Zealand further increases the overall cost.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to expand our events programme and create even more opportunities to support local talent and initiatives.
As a business, we recognise the importance of giving back. When you shop with My Little Library, you’re not only gaining valuable learning resources, but you’re also supporting a greater cause. We proudly donate 10% of our profits from online sales to charity, helping those who are less fortunate.
Check out My Little Library at 1484B Dominion Road, Mount Roskill, Auckland. You can also find the store online at www.mylittlelibrarynz.com/ and on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Saadiyah Musa
Saadiyah Musais the owner of My Little Library, an Islamic bookstore based in New Zealand, dedicated to providing a wide range of literature that enriches the minds of young readers and their families. With a background in primary school teaching, Saadiyah has taught both in New Zealand and internationally, giving her a deep understanding of the diverse educational needs of students. Her passion for fostering literacy and promoting Islamic values is reflected in her work, both as an educator and a bookstore owner.