Literary Safari

Next week, the holy month of Ramadan will come to its conclusion and millions of Muslims around the world will be celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. “Eid” is an Arabic word meaning festival and “Fitr” means to break the fast. So, yes, Eid-ul-Fitr is literally the festive breaking of a month long fast.

Earlier this week, I was surprised and pleased to see the window of my favorite children’s bookstore in NYC, the Bank Street Bookstore, filled with books and novelty items about Eid. Included in their window display are the following three picture books which, I think, beautifully bring the Eid celebration to life for young children here in the U.S. Here you go: three picture book picks, one for each day of Eid.

The Best Eid Ever, by Asma Mobin-Uddin
Boyds Mill Press, 2007

On Eid morning, despite all the gifts she receives, Aneesa is sad because her parents are away on Hajj. Her outlook changes, however, when she meets two sisters—refugees from a war torn country—at the mosque. While her grandmother Nonni prepares a delicious Eid feast, Aneesa cooks up a plan to share the festival’s delights with her new friends and give them the best Eid ever. Laura Jacobsen’s pastel pencil illustrations sensitively bring to life Asma Mobin-Uddin’s poignant holiday story about sadaqua, the Islamic tenet of voluntary giving within one’s means.

The White Nights of Ramadan, by Maha Addasi
Boyds Mill Press 2008

Noor lives in a country in the Persian Gulf and is preparing for Girgian, a special three-day celebration that takes place in the middle of Ramadan when the moon is almost full. Girgian means “candy” and is an occasion where children wear their best traditional clothes and go from house to house collecting treats from their neighbors (not so different from our Halloween tradition of trick or treating). Ned Gannon’s warm paintings carry the reflection of glimmering moonlight and bring a different culture to life for readers. Underlying the narrative of the festivities is a reminder of the significance of Ramadan. “Ramadan can be fun, but remember that the true meaning of Ramadan is spending time with family and sharing with those less fortunate,” Noor’s grandmother tells her.

The Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story, by Hena Khan
Chronicle Books, 2008

A wonderful primer about the A-Z’s of Ramadan as its celebrated in a Pakistani household in America, complete with presents, backyard barbeques, and trampolines. As seven-year old Yasmeen follows and watches the phases of the moon, we are led through the unfolding festivities in her household and community. In her multicultural classroom, she and her classmates engage in a discussion about Ramadan where she explains the significance of the holy month. The story beautifully portrays a holiday celebrated by many different cultures, a holiday not so different from other holidays marked on the American calendar. This is wonderful contribution to the literature of tolerance and a window into contemporary Muslim culture. I am a huge fan of illustrator Julie Paschkis’s work. Her gorgeous, detailed style is complemented by her ability to take traditional art forms (in this case Islamic tiles) and render them in a contemporary context.

More books about Ramadan at Just One More Book.