This Sunday marks the beginning of Ramadan, followed by Eid al-Fitr. I’m pleased to see so many new picture books exploring different facets of these holidays: children’s pride in fasting for the first time; families coming together for iftar, the meal Muslims eat at sundown to break their daily fasts; the sighting of the crescent moon, which heralds the beginning and end of Ramadan; and the joy of celebrating Eid. The number of Ramadan and Eid titles only seems to be increasing each year—a trend I hope continues. Muslim children need to see their experiences reflected, while non-Muslims should be aware of the significance of these holidays, observed by nearly two billion people all over the world.
Marzieh A. Ali’s A Ramadan To Remember (Soaring Kite Books, Jan. 1) finds young Zain dealing with complicated emotions. He’s thrilled that Ramadan is nearly here, but things are different this year. His family has moved to a new neighborhood, where few people know about—much less celebrate—Ramadan. But Zain is heartened when he finally meets another young Muslim; he also finds that his non-Muslim neighbors are eager to share in his traditions. Najwa Awatiff’s sunny illustrations bring to life Zain’s supportive community, while Ali’s narrative highlights key aspects of Ramadan.
Adam, the protagonist of Sahtinay Abaza’s The Ramadan Drummer (Reycraft Books, Jan. 16), is fasting, and all he can think about is food. But that changes after he dreams of the Ramadan Drummer, who, according to his mother and aunt, used to awaken everyone each morning before sunrise so they could eat their last meal before the fast began. As he and the old, bearded drummer walk the streets, Adam hears whispers from people in the surrounding houses, many lonely or in need—and he realizes that doing good deeds is what Ramadan is truly about. Dinara Mirtalipova’s sumptuous illustrations soar during the nighttime sequences, the whispers swirling into the air. Though the setting is unspecified, the backmatter mentions some countries where the tradition was once common.
“Ramadan is here! / Hooray!” Excitement pervades M.O. Yuksel’s Ramadan Kareem (Harper/HarperCollins, Feb. 20) from the very first pages. All over the world, little ones and their families wake early for suhoor, pray together, purchase foods for iftar, and, as Ramadan ends, come together to celebrate Eid. Yuksel’s jaunty verse focuses on sensory experiences—the texture of a Quran, the aroma of kofta—that will speak to young readers, while Hatem Aly’s bustling illustrations are rife with culturally specific details.
As Ramadan draws to a close, the protagonist of Noura’s Crescent Moon (April 16, Candlewick) by Zainab Khan is filled with pride: This was her first time fasting. What better way to cap it off than by spotting the crescent moon that marks the start of Eid? Noura, her parents, and others gather on top of a high hill to look for the moon, and though her parents warn her that spotting the moon is a rare occurrence, her hopes are high. Nabila Adani’s lavish illustrations capture the deep pinks and purples of sunset, as well as the warm sense of community at the heart of this holiday.
Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.
