THE GIFT OF RAMADAN

Little Sophia wants to fast for the first time during Ramadan. She learns it’s not easy—but also that fasting is not the only way to partake in Ramadan.

Hearing her grandmother refer to “the heart of a person who fasts” as “pretty and sparkly,” Sophia tries to fast on the first day of Ramadan, but she becomes “too hungry.” Grandma comforts her, explaining, “No one expects you to fast for an entire day,” and, “You have a full month to keep trying.” Sophia observes the different ways her parents and Grandma celebrate Ramadan and finds a way to celebrate without fasting the entire day so that with Grandma’s help she feels very “sparkly” indeed. Lumbard captures a few simple ways of celebrating and participating in the month of Ramadan through a young child’s eyes. Sophia learns that Ramadan is more than just fasting; it’s also about prayer and contemplation and about charity and sharing. Horton’s use of bright colors—yellow, blue, and purple tones—helps to highlight the month of Ramadan as a special time full of joy and beauty. The family appears to be Western and multiracial; Grandma and Sophia’s dad have medium-brown skin, Sophia’s mom is white, and Sophia and her little brother have light-brown skin. Grandma covers her hair (even in the house) and Momma does not (except in prayer). An author’s note includes basic information about the month of Ramadan.

A child-friendly and -centric look at this important observance.