Upside-Down Iftar by Maysa Odeh and Nadine Issa - ADVISABLE

Upside-Down Iftar by Maysa Odeh and Nadine Issa. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 9781250365552

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Malak is too young to fast during Ramadan, so she asks her grandmother to help her make something special for the rest of the family. They decide on makloubeh, a rice, meat, and vegetable dish. Everyone likes a different gathering of ingredients. Malak wants to make something to please everyone, but also to be true to herself.

More a story about grandmother and granddaughter enjoy cooking together, than a look at Remadan. It is a very sweet look, however. Students who celebrate Ramadan will love thai representation. And this would easily be a part of a holiday unit - especially one that includes food!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Eid by Eric Carle - ADVISABLE

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Eid: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Eric Carle. BOARD BOOK. Penguin Young Readers Group, 2026. $13. 9798217141753

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

To celebrate Eid (al-Fitr or al-Adha), Muslims dress in their best clothes, attend special morning prayers, exchange greetings like "Eid Mubarak," visit family and friends, share feasts with traditional foods, give gifts (especially to children), and perform acts of charity, focusing on gratitude, community, and joy. Key traditions include giving Zakat (charity), sharing meals, decorating homes, and for Eid al-Adha, sacrificing an animal and distributing meat to the needy.

Although not everyone celebrates Eid, people everywhere can learn what this special celebration entails and can enjoy the lift the flap aspect while finding beloved very hungry caterpillar insects on each page.

S. Lewis 

Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelo, illustrated by Hatem Aly - ESSENTIAL

Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelo, illustrated by Hatem Aly. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books, 2023. $19. 9781984848093

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

On Muhamad's seventh birthday, he is given a salat rug to use for his daily prayers. He washes  his face and hands before he prays. Muhammad takes his salat rug to school the next day for his prayers, but he is afraid others will not accept him if they see him at prayer. He watches his father stop and pray at the appointed times without being embarrassed by what others think. Muhamad wishes he could be brave also. That night, his father lets him practice praying with him on the city streets. It gives him courage to live what he has been taught.

Bigelow teaches about the Muslim tradition of salat while demonstrating the anxiety faced by children as they learn to follow the faith of their fathers.  Aly is able to show Muhamad's emotions in his brightly colored illustrations. The Muslim terms at the end of the book help the reader to better understand the story. It is a great book to teach others about the Muslim faith.

Muhamad is Muslim.

MOMMAC

The House Without Lights by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Nadia Alam - ADVISABLE

The House Without Lights by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Nadia Alam. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250907219

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

The little house is happy it has a new family, but is sad that while all of the other houses in the neighborhood are decorated with twinkling lights, it is sitting dark.  It listens carefully to learn about its new family - and hears a new word - “Eid”. Which means that in the spring, house will have its lights, while the other houses are dark.

Faruqi sweetly shows how it might feel to be a family that doesn’t celebrate the same holidays as its neighbors - in a way that shows, instead of telling. An excellent fit for any community with Muslim students.  The back matter explains a bit more about Eid.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Aliya's Secret: a Story of Ramadan by Farida Zaman - ADVISABLE

Aliya's Secret: a Story of Ramadan by Farida Zaman. PICTURE BOOK Owl Kids, 2023 $19. 9781771475648 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Aliya wants to fast for Ramadan just like her parents. When she secretly tries however, she is very hungry - so hungry her mom hears her tummy rumbling. Her mother shows her that fasting is just one of the many ways that Ramadan is celebrated and that when she is older she will ready to fast too. 

A charming book to show young people the many facets of Ramadan and that it is much more than fasting. I liked that Aliya brings in some non-Muslim friends to share in the celebrations, too. A simple, but very good look at how Ramadan is celebrated. Look to other books of the why's of Ramadan. Aliya and her family are from the Middle East. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Rabia's Eid by Rukhsana Khan illustrated by Debby Rahmalia - ADVISABLE

Rabia's Eid by Rukhsana Khan and Debby Rahmalia. EARLY READER. Penguin Random House, 2024. $6. 9780593706817

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

On the last day of Ramadan, Rabia wanted to fast along with her family. Her sister thought she was too little but her father said she could try to fast for half a day. Rabia was happy to celebrate Eid with her family. 

This is a very cute, very sweet story about a little girl learning the traditions of her family. The illustrations are nice. The text would be easy to follow for a new reader. The family in the story is Muslim. 

Reviewer: A. Snow 

One Sun and Countless Stars: A Muslim Book of Numbers by Hena Khan and Mehrdokht Amini - ESSENTIAL

One Sun and Countless Stars: A Muslim Book of Numbers by Hena Khan, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini PICTURE BOOK Chronicle Books, 2022. $18. 9781452182728 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A counting book, but so special. Each number is associated with a special activity - like you need 2 hands for Dua, and there are 5 cups of tea at Halaqa, and 8 figs saved for sahoor. 

One Sun and Countless Stars is such a beautiful book! Amini's illustrations are brilliant, in both color and design. Khan is connecting the numbers to things with cultural and religious significance. The author's note and glossary were helpful. Oh - I have a Muslim friend with small children. I'm certainly buying a copy as a gift. Wonderful!

Lisa Librarian

Zahra's Blessing :A Ramadan Story by Shirin Shamsi and Manal Mirza - ADVISABLE

Zahra's Blessing :A Ramadan Story by Shirin Shamsi, illustrated by Manal Mirza. PICTURE BOOK. Barefoot Books, 2022. $18 9781646864935 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Zahara’s Muslim family is celebrating the month of Ramadan. While Zahara and her mother are packing up clothing to give to a shelter, she loses her favorite teddy bear. During this wonderful month of blessings, she wishes a prayer to find her teddy bear and have a sister. Zahara enjoys going to the shelter full of displaced people. She becomes friends with a younger girl named Haleema who has lost her home and family. Zahara wishes that she had her lost teddy bear to give to Haleema. On Eid Al-Fitr, the last day of Ramadan, Zahara gets a wonderful surprise!

Shamsi and Mirza have created a wonderful way to teach children about Ramadan and also teach that other people may have a different belief than themselves, but we all have many of the same hopes and dreams. It also teaches children how important it is to serve others. This book is amplified by beautiful artwork and middle eastern motifs that work well with the endearing story.

Reviewer: PGPowers 

Allah Made Everything: The Song Book by Zain Bhika and Azra Momin - OPTIONAL

Allah Made Everything: The Song Book by Zain Bhika, illustrated by Azra Momin.  PICTURE BOOK. The Islamic Foundation, 2019. $12. 9780860377702

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: ADVISABLE

Zain Bhika is a very popular Islamic entertainer for young and old.  His praise song for the goodness and greatness of Allah is beautifully, exuberantly illustrated.  While this would be most enjoyed in an Islamic family, it could also be a good addition for a school with any Muslim population.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Yan’s Hajj: A Journey of a Lifetime by Fawzia Gilani and Sophie Burrows - ADVISABLE

Yan’s Hajj: A Journey of a Lifetime by Fawzia Gilani, illustrated by Sophie Burrows.  PICTURE BOOK. Islamic Foundation (Kube), 2018. 9780860376231 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Yan keeps saving up his money to go on Hajj, but each time he starts the journey he finds other people who need the money more than he does.  When he become so old that he gives up his dream, a miracle fostered by his earlier good deeds comes back to bless him.

What a beautiful look at the principles of Islam framed around a journey for Hajj.  I will add this to my own more informational books about Islam for students to get a greater depth of feeling.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Crayola Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr Colors by Mari Schuh - ADVISABLE

Crayola Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr Colors by Mari Schuh.  PICTURE BOOK/ NON-FICTION.  Lerner Publications, 2019. 9781541510937

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This gives a basic overview of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. Ramadan is a Muslim tradition where the people fast for a month and do not eat or drink while the sun is up. Eid al-fitr is a festival that occurs to celebrate the end of Ramadan. 

I love the bright colors and simple explanations of this Muslim tradition and celebration. I feel like the descriptions are simple and informative if you are not familiar with this culture. The pictures were beautiful and colorful and there was a fun Crayola coloring page you can copy at the back for kids to color, which is a fun addition.  

SLM

The Eid al-Adha Adventure by Oxley and Aronson - OPTIONAL

Peg + Cat: The Eid al-Adha Adventure by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Entertainment, 2018. $13. 9780763699321

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Peg and Cat visit some of their friends who are celebrating Eid al-Adha and admit they don’t know anything about the holiday but would like to learn. Yasmina and Amir, their friends, explain that it is a time of feasting and giving. They show some of the foods they have made and together they share some with neighbors and some with those in need. 

I love that one of the characters is wearing a hijab and even talks about picking it out. I don’t like that the religion or region of world from which Eid al-Adha comes is not named. My kids kept asking and I kept assuming the text would answer that eventually, but it never did. There are math problems sprinkled in the text, but I didn’t find them very compelling for kids to learn something new or notice something they already knew, although I’m certain a math teacher could make those connections for the readers. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Diwali by Hannah Eliot - ADVISABLE

Celebrate the World : Diwali by Hannah Eliot illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan BOARD BOOK Little Simon (Simon and Schuster), 2018. $9.

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The Hindu festival of Diwali is celebrated. The 5 day festival includes preparation, lights, food and traditions including prayers, and even fireworks! This is a lovely primer about Diwali. The illustrations are busy without being too much - there's a lot to look at, so the child can spend a good amount of time with this book. A great addition to a holiday or religious collection. 

Lisa Librarian

Night of the Moon by Hena Khan - ADVISABLE

Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan, illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Chronicle Books, 2008.

EL - ESSENTIAL; MS, HS - ADVISABLE

Yasmeen, a Pakastani-American girl, is too young to fast during Ramadan herself, but that doesn't stop her from sharing the holiday with her school friends and participating in her family's celebration.

The bright illustrations are a perfect compliment to the text in this picture book. While Yasmeen is a little girl, she still gives a good look at this Muslim holy month. Even high school geography teachers could read this to their students as a quick ways to explain how Ramadan works.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.