The Qurʼan and Islam

Reviewed with Anita Ganeri's Tipitaka and Other Buddhist Texts. Gr. 4-6. The Sacred Texts series looks at major religious traditions through the lens of their writings. Qur'an tells the story of Muhammad's revelations from God and their collection, after his death, into the Qur'an and then moves on to discuss the teachings of the Qur'an and its importance in shaping the everyday lives of Muslims. Although the Tipitaka are the central sacred texts only for Therevada Buddhists, Tipitaka introduces a vast array of Buddhist sacred literature, including the kid-friendly Jataka stories, one of which is retold here. There's a lot of material packed into a few pages, and even good readers will have trouble juggling such information as the different schools of Buddhism and the many sects within them. But attractive illustrations, including photographs and reproductions of religious art, make for a nice design, and students will find a wealth of information for reports, much of which can't easily be found in other series for this age group. --John Green Copyright 2003 Booklist