We all know what it can be like to have a hectic day and Mrs. Parack is in the midst of one when she notices that the family socks are going missing! She’s convinced that there is a monster in the house stealing all of the socks and goes about trying to determine what his name is. She asks her son Musa who does not know but who in turn poses a questions to his mother.
“Why don’t you ask Allah?” little Musa asks his mom.
The question is simple but the implications profound. We pray to Allah every day but do we seek His help in the details of our lives as we should? And are we setting an example among our children so that they too seek out Allah ‘s help?
This delightful story is filled with vivid, brightly colored illustrations and there is a lyrical quality to the narrative that makes it perfect for reading aloud. I recently sat down with my niece and nephew to read it together and it was a hit! They love it and it is a new favorite! Can’t you tell from the looks on their faces? 🙂
I was fortunate to be able to ask the author Sister Elizabeth Lymer about the book and her upcoming projects. Here’s what the she shared about this endearing story!
Brief Interview With Author Elizabeth Lymer
What inspired you to write the book?
I like oral storytelling with my children. Sometimes I use traditional stories, sometimes therapeutic stories – for example, ones collected by Susan Perrow, and sometimes I improvise stories in response to my family needs. I improvised this story for my children when I had Post Natal Depression. I was at an early stage in my illness when I knew something was wrong but I did not yet realize what – I didn’t know the name of my problem or how to move into recovery. The story facilitated happy moments between me and my children, and times to look forward to, alhamdulillah.
Are any of the characters based on members of your family?
The family characters are all based loosely on my family, and the cashier is based on a real cashier who sold me socks and suggested the name Hector for a sock monster, masha’Allah. This is the only story I’ve shared publicly which is based so closely on actual people so it’s strange that it’s my first story book.
But I felt compelled to share the story. It is such fun for young children. And the two child characters in the story are wonderful role models – they help their mother to remember Allah SWT and seek His help.
The sock monster is depicted knitting odd socks into flowers at the end of the story. It was only after I asked the illustrator, Azra Momin, to show this that I realized he is representative of mental illness. After I recovered from the Post Natal Depression I came to appreciate the trial for all the good that came out of it, alhamdulillah.
Insha’Allah I particularly hope the story helps mothers of young children to recognize the blessings Allah SWT puts in our maternal hardships, from illnesses to fatigue.
Do you have any forthcoming titles that readers can look forward to?
A couple of families have asked me for a follow up picture book about the Parack family and sock monster in this story, masha’Allah. I have not started writing one but I do hope to insha’Allah.
However, insha’Allah I have a few books scheduled for launch soon alhamdulillah:
Insha’Allah a toddler Islamic ecology book named Peace and Thanks on the Farm will be available in time for Earth Day in April and a rhyming picture book titled Angels and Rainbows will be out at the beginning of June.
Also, insha’Allah my collection of songs called Islamic Nursery Rhymes will be launched as a revised edition before the end of the month.
Alhamdulillah I feel incredibly blessed to be working with several creative people to make books for Muslim children.