One Wish

A Horn Book selection for "Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month 2022”

Fatima had one wish . . .

Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors.

As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatima’s one wish her school served students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today!

With lyrical text by M. O. Yuksel (author of In My Mosque ) and stunning illustrations by Mariam Quraishi, this true-life portrait of an extraordinary Muslim woman shows the importance of never giving up on your dreams and how we all have the power to change the world for the better.

About the Author

M. O. Yuksel has attend many mosques around the world, from Turkey to Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan to Malaysia, Canada, and the United States, and is passionate about sharing the unique architecture and personality of each, as well as the feeling of serenity, peace and hospitality that is common to them all. She lives in New Jersey, USA, with her husband and three sons.