Tag Archives: suhoor

Mar3

Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi

Posted on March 3, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

This beautiful lyrical book has a simple premise of the moon looking down on people celebrating Ramadan as it circles the Earth, but stands out as being unique thanks to the poetic language and engaging illustrations. Each spread shows moon in a different phase over a different country, and the joy, activities and worship that Muslims are partaking in during the blessed month. I’m embarrassed to say, I didn’t realize that the author is also the illustrator until I sat down to write this review, and honestly it makes sense, as the story text and illustrations work seamlessly together. The tone of the book, the details in the pictures, and the rich language make this a good read for a large audience. Little ones probably won’t fully understand the poetry, but they will be mesmerized none-the-less and feel the excitement. My three year old calls the moon all year round, the “Ramadan Moon” and he understood that the Moon in the story is excited seeing us celebrate and worship. He consistently would still be peeking in windows or searching the scenes, not quite ready for me to turn the page long after the text was done being read. Older kids will appreciate the shared global bonds of Muslims and the cultural specifics too. They will grasp the information shared and beliefs touched upon in the flowing words that do not preach. My only criticism is that the book starts with Moon saying, “Hello.” In an Islamic centered book I would have expected to see Assalamualaikum, especially since it appears on the page where moon is above Egypt, so I’m not sure why the English greetings is used. The book has a glossary and notes at the end making it a great addition to Muslim and non Muslim spaces alike. I plan to read the book for a Masjid story time as the large hardback book will work just as well for a group of kids as it does at bed time.

Told from a personified Moon’s perspective, the book begins with Moon smiling at Earth as people all over the world excitedly point and look up at her, but once they see her, they rush off to prepare for the month. Over Turkey, the Ramadan Drummer awakens sleepy people for suhoor and over Indonesia he sees families gathering for iftar. As each day passes Moon grows fuller watching the children do good deeds and people sharing their wealth.

Nights of Taraweeh and listening to the Quran over Somalia, sharing treats in the United Kingdom, and interfaith among neighbors in the United States bring joy to Moon. And as the waning crescent sees henna being put on hands in Dubai the month is coming to an end. People once again look to the sky, but they cannot see Moon in Argentina, Moon is new. It is Chaand Raat and then it is Eid. Moon is back in Egypt watching people celebrate and then the world returns to looking up at Moon and she beams with love and gratitude.

There are diverse characters of a variety of skin tones, mobilities, ages, body size and abilities featured all throughout the book in a positive and inclusive normalizing manner. The backmatter makes the concepts more accessible and the book work on different layers. I really enjoyed the book and am excited to share it. I purchased mine at Crescent Moon Store where using my initials ISL (Islamic School Librarian) will save you 10% it is also available here at Amazon Even my local public library has it on the shelves already! Happy Ramadan!

Mar2

Nadia and Nadir: Ramadan Cookies by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Lala Stellune

Posted on March 2, 2023 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Nadia and Nadir: Ramadan Cookies by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Lala Stellune

This 32 page early reader is part of the Nadia and Nadir series that can be read and purchased as a standalone. It shows the sibling duo problem solving, working together, sharing, and getting excited for Ramadan. With the theme of cookies, the book could work as a read aloud in a small group with an activity of making cookies following it, but the small leveled reader size and text volume would make it a hard selection for larger groups. The setting is Ramadan, the female characters wear hijab (even in the home with just family), but there is not a lot of religious beliefs or practices included in the story. It does detail the lunar calendar and phases of the moon, but thankfully does a decent job of inserting that knowledge from Nadia who has learned about the moon in science class. There are a few salams, and it mentions that Nadir isn’t fasting because he is young, Nadia gets up for their predawn meal, and snuggles back in to bed after saying her prayers. There is articulation that Ramadan is a month for Muslims and a time to share blessings when the kids share their cookies with the neighbors. There is a handful of Urdu words sprinkled in and a glossary at the end. The book shows a family’s traditions and radiates joy, it is a solid addition to Muslim and non Muslim book shelves in showing Ramadan cookie making and excitement in action, but would not inform a lot about the religious aspects, uniqueness, or basic practices about the month.

Nadia and Nadir start the book with their binoculars around their necks waiting for Abu to arrive home from work, Ammi is already on the roof and they are determined to spot the Ramadan moon. The kids are all sorts of confused where to even look in the vast night sky, but once Abu helps them out they find it and declare, “Chand Mubarak.”

Nadir wants to know why it isn’t a full moon, and his older sister Nadia explains the cycles, they are then off to make cookies as per their families Ramadan tradition. The dough is ready, the star cookie cutter has been found, but where is the moon cookie cutter? Nadia has an idea, and sure enough her problem solving skills allow crescent moons to be made.

The next morning Nadia has her predawn meal of cookies and milk and when Nadir wakes up he has the same. The kids pack up bags of cookies with their Ammi to pass to neighbors and friends, with only one left who will get it Nadia or Nadir?

The books are available widely at places such as Amazon but for the same price I hope you will support a small Muslim owned bookstore and purchase your copy at Crescent Moon, if you use my initials ISL (Islamic School Librarian) at checkout you will save 10%, link:

Nadia & Nadir Series

Mar15

Ramadan’s Coming by Rabia Bashir illustrated by Laila Ramadhani

Posted on March 15, 2021 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Ramadan’s Coming by Rabia Bashir illustrated by Laila Ramadhani

I think the illustrations in this 40 page picture song book are my favorite of the new 2021 books. They are adorable and expressive and a big part of the story that the text alludes to, but doesn’t detail. They also are a big part of the activities at the end of the book that encourage children to go back and find different Ramadan and Eid concepts to discuss and further understand. I absolutely love that there is a glossary and a reference page that details and attributes the hadith implied in the simple sing song-y words. The chorus is to the tune of jingle bells, and while I struggled to maintain the rhythm, the chorus reappears and if you are able to sing the book, your children will love it even more, haha, my voice and lack of rhythm forced me to read it, but either way it is absolutely delightful and informative for toddlers and up.

It starts out with the refrain that Ramadan is here and we will fast and pray and that Allah (swt) will give us more rewards and we will do more good deeds, than on normal days. It then shares that Ramadan is the month after Shaban when the Qur’an first came down and that we look for the crescent moon to know when Ramadan is here. It is important to note that the words flow and are so concise you don’t even realize that much information has been conveyed.

The chorus repeats and shows a family praying, kids helping vacuum, and giving socks to homeless. The family then wakes up early for a healthy suhoor, no food or drink, thinking about how the poor must feel and then having iftar with a sticky sweet date and water. Sometimes you eat so much your belly protrudes (a great vocabulary word for little ones). The next page has salat starting and those that ate too much wishing they would have left space for air and water.

The chorus repeats again showing zakat being given, iftars being eaten in segregated large groups, before looking for Laylat ul Qadr takes place and some children read Qur’an in an itikaf tent. Then it is time for Eid hugs, salams, prayer, food and fun.

On one page, the grammar of one line seems off, perhaps an extra word was added. I contacted the author to see if it is an error as it is part of the chorus, but only appears wrong in one place and one time. Even with the error, I would happily encourage this book for families with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. It will be read multiple times, and the pictures will hopefully offer something new with each reading as understanding increases.

The copy I purchased from Amazon is 8.5 by 8.5 paperback, I’m not sure if they will be available from the publisher as a board book or without faces like so many of their books are.

Mar11

10 Things I Love about Ramadan by Firhana Imam illustrated by Ali Gator

Posted on March 11, 2021 by islamicschoollibrarian

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10 Things I Love about Ramadan by Firhana Imam illustrated by Ali Gator

After a while a lot of Ramadan books seem repetitive with the information being more or less the same, this 24 page kindergarten and up book however, manages to present the information in a numbered format that allows for the information to flow without being constrained by an overly forced story. The result is a fun little read that children will enjoy as they master some of the key concepts of Ramadan. This book doesn’t have activities at the end, but would lend itself very easily to games, memorization challenges and discussion topics if read frequently for even the littlest Muslims. It would also work as an introduction to the month for non Muslims. I know I get asked a lot for suggestions of books to be read to children’s classes in public schools, and this would definitely work for that too.

The book starts out with an introduction to Nabeela as this is her list of 10 things that she loves about Ramadan. She starts with Assalamu Alaikum before diving in with some facts and getting started with number one. Each number is a two page illustrated spread, there are footnotes for any Arabic or religious terms used, and the bright colors and large fonts make the book easy for early readers to follow along with and attempt on their own.

She starts by loving the new moon that her family looks for before the start of Ramadan. She loves Suhur: helping prepare for it the night before and eating her favorite pancakes early in the morning.

Number 3 is iftar. She loves pies and samosas and explains to us that she always has dates and water because that is the Sunnah. Along the way she shares her love of family, making du’a because a fasting person’s du’as are always accepted, and reading Qur’an even though it is difficult because she knows she will get more rewards for trying so hard.

She also loves Tarawih prayer whether at the mosque or at home, and the peacefulness of Lailatul Qadr. She loves that her father and brother stay at the mosque the last ten nights of Ramadan in Itikaf and finally at number 10 is Eid!

The book concludes with some verses from the Qur’an about Ramadan in English. I thoroughly am impressed at how succinctly so much is conveyed and the adorable manner in which it is done, Alhumdulillah!

Mar1

Baby’s First Ramadan by Clare Lloyd design and illustrations by Eleanor Bates

Posted on March 1, 2021 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Baby’s First Ramadan by Clare Lloyd design and illustrations by Eleanor Bates

I was excited to see publishing company DK add this Ramadan book to their board book selection, but overall it didn’t wow me, or even really impress me. It has realistic pictures of diverse Muslims celebrating Ramadan, simple text, and bright images, but it read awkward as it switched between first and third person, realistic and stock looking images, and not terribly enticing with slightly faded mehndi and unexplained foods. There are better board books out there for babies and toddlers than this 12 page mainstream published one. If you can find it at the library, sure check it out, but I’d save my money on purchasing it.

The book starts out saying Muslims follow Islam and Ramadan is a special month in Islam. It features a a man holding a little girl and both are people of color. The opposite page is a cartoonish crescent moon saying it is the start of Ramadan.

The next page has a plate of realistic deviled eggs on a bright background stating that many Muslims fast, don’t eat from sunrise to sunset. It also states that the meal before dawn is called suhoor or sehri. I’m not sure why Urdu is included with the traditional Arabic and no other languages are mentioned.

The next page then shows a little girl praying and switches to present tense first person and says “Let’s pray…” followed by a little boy reading Quran and stating that reading Quran helps us learn about Islam. It then switches back to declarative 3rd person saying that people break their fasts before sunset prayers and shows a bowl of dates.

A family is then shown breaking their fast with a meal known as iftar and the reader is urged to pick their favorite sweet to eat from a plate of different shaped baklava. There is no description about the baklava and I don’t know how enticing they would be if you have never tasted it before.

The book concludes with the same cartoonish night sky and silhouetted masjids saying the crescent has been seen, Ramadan is over and tomorrow is Eid. The last page is a girls hand saying , “Let’s celebrate Eid by making henna patterns on our hands.”

I think the idea is good, but I feel like it doesn’t answer many questions about Ramadan and Muslims and probably makes the religion and celebrations seem foreign and odd, presumably the opposite effect. I admittedly haven’t read the other holiday books in the series and am not a baby expert, so perhaps I’m really critical and missing the developmental reasoning behind the presentation. But I don’t know that this book is fun or really informative for any age, it just seems random.

May31

Badir and the Beaver by Shannon Stewart illustrated by Sabrina Gendron

Posted on May 31, 2019 by islamicschoollibrarian

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Badir and the Beaver by Shannon Stewart illustrated by Sabrina Gendron

This 92 page early chapter book is a great linear story for 1st through 3rd graders. The size, font, spacing, illustrations, chapter length, and content make it a fun read that incorporates diversity, environmental action, teamwork, information about beavers and acceptance all through the efforts of young Badir, a recent immigrant from Tunisia during the blessed month of Ramadan.

SYNOPSIS:

Badir is new to Canada and while he misses Tunisia, he is joyful and upbeat as we meet his older brother Anis, young twin siblings and classmates. Out one night before iftar, he sees what he thinks is a giant rat swimming in a lake, but no one believes him. When he sees it a second time, a lady at the park explains to him that it is a beaver, not a rat, and pulls out a Canadian coin to show him there is a connection between beavers and Canada. With new knowledge about the difference between a lake and a pond, a rat and a beaver, Badir is fascinated with how beavers build homes, mate for life, and benefit the environment. He even likens the beaver eating at sunset to his families own Ramadan schedule.

But all is not well for the beaver, as a petition is being circulated to relocate the rodent and save the trees in the park from his sharp teeth. With new friends, a supportive teacher and classmates, Badir is determined to prevent the beaver from having to leave his home as Badir and his family had to do.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love that this book is subtle in highlighting the welcoming of immigrants into a community, about having the main character be Muslim and it being Ramadan, and showing that diverse people can come together for a bigger cause and even become friends. The main story line is naturally to save the beaver and the trees in the park, so the information and facts about beavers is appreciated and well presented. I think most everyone of every age will learn something new about the common rodent. But, by the main character being genuinely like-able and infectious, the reader will also realize that any negative stereotypes about Muslims or immigrants really aren’t a factor. Badir’s family is really nice, the parents prepare food together, they feed their kids’ friends, and invite them over. The author does a good job at accurately making them seem like any other family.

There isn’t much stress on Badir being Muslim or what that means outside of it being Ramadan, praying, and going to the mosque as a family at night. The illustrations show the mom in hijab. The book tells a tiny bit about Tunisia, but not why they left, and definitely makes the foods they eat sound delicious. Overall, it really does a good job of keeping the book about the beaver and finding a solution.

The book is for both non Muslims and Muslims and seems to be written by a non Muslim, and while set in Ramadan it is definitely not limited to being a “Ramadan story.” There are small pictures on many pages and a full page picture in each of the 12 chapters.

FLAGS:

None

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I think this book should be in classrooms and school libraries. It really is well written, informative, and fun. I don’t do a story time for the target audience of this book, but I think it would be a candidate for my “Lunch Bunch” meetings, when I read aloud to 4th and 5th graders once a week while they eat lunch. Even if it is slightly below a 5th grade level, I think even older kids who pick it up and read it, or listen to it being read, will find it interesting, entertaining, and worth their time.

Publisher’s page: https://www.orcabook.com/Badir-and-the-Beaver-P3992.aspx