THE MOST EXCITING EID

The best part of Eid is sharing with others.

When Safa and her family see the new moon, which marks the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, she’s excited to start their evening traditions. Mom applies henna to their hands, Dad gets out the decorations, and Safa goes to sleep dreaming of the party they’ll have the next day. Safa is ecstatic when she gets everything that she asked Allah for, but she doesn’t want to let her cousin Alissa take a turn on her new bicycle. Mom tells Safa that she’s old enough now to accompany her on visits to their neighbors. Mom and Safa share their treats with others, and Safa reflects on her actions and sees how the gifts make her neighbors happy, all of which adds to her own joy. Safa and her mother go to her grandparents’ house to continue celebrating before heading home. Some readers may be confused by the sequence of events; the story ends with Alissa asking Safa where she went—was Alissa left out of the festivities at Safa’s grandparents’ home? Nevertheless, brightly saturated, celebratory colors and decorations capture the spirit of Eid. The neighbors are of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Cues in the text and in the glossary suggest that Safa and her family are Pakistani. The glossary includes some common Islamic phrases and terms that are not used in the text.

A joyful celebration of Eid with a message of community and gratitude.