We explore the nature of knowledge and education and how Islamic traditions have shaped understanding of these matters. We contrast this with contemporary images of "Taliban-like" schools full of rote repetition and harsh, authoritarian literalism. Some of the history of Islamic scholarship venerates a much more generous relationship to knowing. We link these explorations to a recently published children's picture book, a true story about a librarian in Basra, Iraq, during the recent American invasion. Even if it is a "true story," we consider what its truth is and whether educators might or should or could stand by this truth.