Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

Silent Music follows Ali, a young boy in modern-day Baghdad who loves soccer, music, and most of all, calligraphy. He spends hours practicing the ancient art of Arabic writing, finding peace in the graceful curves and lines. Against the backdrop of conflict in Iraq, Ali continues his dedication to calligraphy while drawing inspiration from master calligrapher Yakut, who lived through the destruction of Baghdad in the 13th century. The parallel stories of Ali and Yakut show two artists pursuing their craft during times of war. Through text and illustrations that incorporate Arabic script, the book explores themes of cultural preservation, artistic expression, and finding beauty during difficult times. The story presents a child's perspective on war while celebrating Iraq's rich artistic heritage.

Readers appreciate the book's authentic portrayal of Iraqi culture and daily life through Ali's perspective. Parents and teachers note the book helps children understand Baghdad beyond news headlines about war. The watercolor illustrations and Arabic calligraphy receive frequent mentions in reviews. Readers liked: - Integration of calligraphy into the storytelling - Cultural details about modern Baghdad - Age-appropriate handling of war themes - Connection between soccer and calligraphy practice Readers disliked: - Some found the plot too simple - A few mentioned wanting more historical context - Limited appeal for older children Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (573 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings) One teacher reviewer noted: "My students were fascinated by the Arabic writing examples and asked to practice calligraphy themselves." A parent wrote: "This book opened a conversation with my child about how kids in other countries live similar lives despite different circumstances."

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🖋️ The book's author, James Rumford, learned Arabic calligraphy while serving in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan and later studied in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Algeria. 📚 The main character, Ali, is inspired by the legendary 13th-century Iraqi calligrapher Yakut al-Mustasimi, who continued practicing his art even as Baghdad was under siege by Mongol armies. 🏰 Baghdad was historically one of the world's greatest centers of calligraphy, and the Baghdad school of calligraphy influenced Islamic artistic styles for centuries. ✍️ Arabic calligraphy involves 28 letters that change shape depending on their position in a word, and masters of the art form must learn over 100 different letter variations. 🎵 The book's title "Silent Music" refers to the rhythm of Arabic calligraphy, which practitioners often describe as being similar to music, with its own flow and tempo.