Simon & Schuster to launch Muslim children’s book division

Simon & Schuster is launching an imprint to focus on books with Muslim characters and stories.

Salaam Reads will be an imprint of its Children’s Publishing Group.

Its first four books, set to be published in 2017, will be: “Salam Alaikum,” a picture book by recording artist Harris J.; “Musa, Moises, Mo and Kevin,” a picture book about four kindergarten best friends by H.A. Raz, a pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team Huda Abdul-Razzak and Azhar Sheraze; “The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand” by Karuna Riazi, aimed at middle-school kids, about a 12-year-old Bangladeshi-American from Queens, NY; and “Yo Soy Muslim,” a lyrical picture book by Mark Gonzales.