Painting Heaven Polishing the Mirror of the Heart

This illustrated tale introduces children to the wondrous teachings from the Muslim theologian and mystic al-Ghazali (1058–1111CE)

This enchanting tale illustrates how that the human heart is like a rusty mirror which, when polished through beautiful doings, is able to reflect the real essence of all things. In addition to this story is a poem by the renowned poet, Coleman Barks. Both draw on the same account found in Ghazali’s The Marvels of the Heart, Book XXI, of his magnum opus, The Revival of Religious Sciences.

Demi Hunt is is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator and the creator of more than 200 books. Her book The Empty Pot was selected by former first lady Barbara Bush to be read on the ABC Radio Network Program Mrs. Bush’s Story Time, sponsored by the Children's Literacy Initiative, and was included in the “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” list poll by the National Education Association. Her book Gandhi was awarded the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, while Muhammad was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. She lives in Seattle. Coleman Barks is a poet and professor emeritus at the University of Georgia in Athens who has gained world renown for his translations of Near Eastern poets, especially Jalal al-Din Rumi. He received an honorary doctorate from Tehran University, and in 2009 he was inducted into the Georgia Writer’s Hall of Fame. He lives in Athens, Georgia.