'Twas the night before Eid? Ramadan for kids via 10 holiday books

Published July 3rd, 2016 - 03:53 GMT

It’s nearly the end of the Holy Month, good on you for your admirable endurance! But you’re exhausted by nightly interrogations from the auntie brigade as to why you have no mate, no kids, are too thin or too fat. And if you have to squeeze between couch-potato cousins catching another Ramadan soap, you’ll howl at the waxing moon.

Al Bawaba has a solution. Grab a few of your tiniest iftar tablemates and find a quiet spot. Pull out a few of these Ramadan reads, and tuck into a tale that will thrill your audience and set you up as their most remarkable relative.

Christianity has shelfloads of holiday literature which help teach little readers about the practices and meaning behind Christmas, Easter and the fasting month of Lent. We’ve rounded up some soon-to-be-classic books on Ramadan and Eid, which are also excellent also for exposing non-Muslim kids to Islamic celebrations. Introduce a short person to a Ramadan read! You’ll come out refreshed, with a mountain of family bonus points too!

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“Pizza in his Pocket: Learning to be Thankful to Allah” tells a funny tale of a boy who loves to eat. He travels the world finding new foods to taste, and along the way shows young readers key Islamic values of sharing, family connection, and the importance of expressing thanks.

"Too Young to Fast" tackles the difficulty many young Muslims face when they begin to fast for Ramadan. This sweet tale tells how a young boy discovers there are many other ways to participate in the Holy Month, and offers tips on how to explain fasting to non-Muslim friends and teachers. It's encourages honest discussion about "fitting in".

“Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story” by Reem Faruqi is based on the author’s experience when she moved to from the UAE to the US and had to explain, with the help of a kindly librarian, why she wasn’t eating lunch with her new classmates. The story also describes the special meals that break the fast and usher in suhoor.

Hena Khan's "Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, a book of Muslim Colors" is a richly illustrated introduction to the visual beauty of Islamic traditions, with a special focus on color in everyday objects. It explores the special meanings of color in hijab, prayer rugs, and food, sure to inspire follow-on conversation about other world cultures.

Mary Matthews' “Magid Fasts for Ramadan" is a heartwarming story of a boy's first Ramadan fast. Children are not required to fast, but this book captures the excitement that the youngest Muslims feel, determined to make it through the day like their elders, with a keen desire to participate in all the season's activities.

“Ilyas and Duck, the Fantastic Festival of Eid-al-fitr” by Omar Khawaja follows a boy through the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.The story also looks at Christmas and Hanukkah, and explains the importance of charity, or 'zakat'. The author believes truthful education encourages us to accept our differences, and cherish our similarities.

“My First Wudu Book” by Hajera Memon is available in paperback and in a waterproof baby bath version. Both have bold graphics that allow you to explain how perform ablutions on tiny hands and feet, but the submersible edition changes colors when you dip it in water! How cool is THAT?

“Owl & Cat: Ramadan is …” by author/illustrator Emma Apple tracks the adventures of the title duo as they celebrate Ramadan with friends and family, learning about patience, prayer, and kindness. It’s part of a three-part series based on Edward Lear’s classic poem, “The Owl and the Pussycat”, including “Owl & Cat: Islam is…”.

The most famous monkey in kid-lit takes on fasting in “It’s Ramadan, Curious George” by H.A. Rey and Hena Khan. George and his sidekick, the Man with the Yellow Hat (here, in a fez!), don’t convert to Islam, instead, they learn about fasting, prayer and charity through their new Muslim friend, Kareem.

"Ramadan", by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi. is stunningly illustrated by Omar Rauuan. A lovely book that teaches a fact-based overview of Ramadan's special traditions, through the experiences of young Hakeem, an American Muslim boy. It won Book of the Year by the National Council for the Social Studies in 1997.

“Pizza in his Pocket: Learning to be Thankful to Allah” tells a funny tale of a boy who loves to eat. He travels the world finding new foods to taste, and along the way shows young readers key Islamic values of sharing, family connection, and the importance of expressing thanks.

"Too Young to Fast" tackles the difficulty many young Muslims face when they begin to fast for Ramadan. This sweet tale tells how a young boy discovers there are many other ways to participate in the Holy Month, and offers tips on how to explain fasting to non-Muslim friends and teachers. It's encourages honest discussion about "fitting in".

“Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story” by Reem Faruqi is based on the author’s experience when she moved to from the UAE to the US and had to explain, with the help of a kindly librarian, why she wasn’t eating lunch with her new classmates. The story also describes the special meals that break the fast and usher in suhoor.

Hena Khan's "Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, a book of Muslim Colors" is a richly illustrated introduction to the visual beauty of Islamic traditions, with a special focus on color in everyday objects. It explores the special meanings of color in hijab, prayer rugs, and food, sure to inspire follow-on conversation about other world cultures.

Mary Matthews' “Magid Fasts for Ramadan" is a heartwarming story of a boy's first Ramadan fast. Children are not required to fast, but this book captures the excitement that the youngest Muslims feel, determined to make it through the day like their elders, with a keen desire to participate in all the season's activities.

“Ilyas and Duck, the Fantastic Festival of Eid-al-fitr” by Omar Khawaja follows a boy through the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.The story also looks at Christmas and Hanukkah, and explains the importance of charity, or 'zakat'. The author believes truthful education encourages us to accept our differences, and cherish our similarities.

“My First Wudu Book” by Hajera Memon is available in paperback and in a waterproof baby bath version. Both have bold graphics that allow you to explain how perform ablutions on tiny hands and feet, but the submersible edition changes colors when you dip it in water! How cool is THAT?

“Owl & Cat: Ramadan is …” by author/illustrator Emma Apple tracks the adventures of the title duo as they celebrate Ramadan with friends and family, learning about patience, prayer, and kindness. It’s part of a three-part series based on Edward Lear’s classic poem, “The Owl and the Pussycat”, including “Owl & Cat: Islam is…”.

The most famous monkey in kid-lit takes on fasting in “It’s Ramadan, Curious George” by H.A. Rey and Hena Khan. George and his sidekick, the Man with the Yellow Hat (here, in a fez!), don’t convert to Islam, instead, they learn about fasting, prayer and charity through their new Muslim friend, Kareem.

"Ramadan", by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi. is stunningly illustrated by Omar Rauuan. A lovely book that teaches a fact-based overview of Ramadan's special traditions, through the experiences of young Hakeem, an American Muslim boy. It won Book of the Year by the National Council for the Social Studies in 1997.

'Twas the night before Eid? Ramadan for kids via 10 holiday books

“Pizza in his Pocket: Learning to be Thankful to Allah” tells a funny tale of a boy who loves to eat. He travels the world finding new foods to taste, and along the way shows young readers key Islamic values of sharing, family connection, and the importance of expressing thanks.

“My First Wudu Book” by Hajera Memon is available in paperback and in a waterproof baby bath version. Both have bold graphics that allow you to explain how perform ablutions on tiny hands and feet, but the submersible edition changes colors when you dip it in water! How cool is THAT?

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