Whatever your religion, the month of Ramadan is a unique opportunity to read books to your kids. Take this time to read stories about this Muslim holiday with your family. There are some great ones to choose from — Ramadan books with important messages, beautiful illustrations, and touching storylines.
In 2017, I wrote an article for the Washington Post sharing six books about Ramadan to read with your kids. For today’s blog post, I’m revisiting this piece. The introduction to my original article is below, and I urge you to click “Read more…” to read the rest. Then check out two bonus books I’ve added here, both of which came out after my piece in the Washington Post.
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My Original Article “Teach Your Kids About Ramadan with These Books”
As a specialist in Middle Eastern Studies and a father of two small children, I like to mix books about different religions into our nightly story time. Ramadan is a month of fasting and faith for Muslims around the world, and also a wonderful opportunity to explore religious diversity with young children. Whatever your beliefs, these are great books to read aloud. Their focus on family, food, charity and faith are universal qualities for all to explore.
Read more here at washingtonpost.com…
Then Check Out Two Additional Books!
A Moon for Moe and Mo, by Jane Breslin Zalben; illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. When Moses (Moe) and Mohammed (Mo) meet at a Brooklyn grocery store, they are mistaken for brothers. Moe and his mother are preparing for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Mo and his mother are preparing for Ramadan. The two boys explore the store and play together, then find each other at a local playground days later, launching this interfaith friendship. Notes by the author and illustrator say the story is “about empathy, the beauty of similarities, and the ease with which children form deep friendships.”
The book concludes with detailed descriptions of these holidays, as well as recipes for two dishes from the story. The first is rugelach, rolled pastries filled with raisins and jam (usually raspberry or strawberry). Optional additions like ground walnuts or chocolate chips are delicious too. The second recipe is for date cookies. These treats are delicately spiced with lemon zest and cardamom, mixed with chopped dates and slivered almonds. Perfect with a glass of mint tea.
The Gift of Ramadan, by Rabiah York Lumbard; illustrated by Laura K. Horton. Through interactions with her mom, dad, grandma and little brother, Sophia sees how hard it is to fast during Ramadan. She struggles not to eat during the day, but is eager to participate in the holiday and looks for other ways to help. This lovely story, illustrated in bright eye-catching colors, shows that Ramadan is about much more than food and fasting.
An author’s note at the end of the book defines and elaborates on Ramadan. In addition to fasting from food, one should monitor one’s speech and actions, and pursue the fast of the heart. This last part is especially powerful. As the author explains, it means “emptying oneself of all that is selfish, then filling oneself with all that is good, true, and beautiful. Just like Sophia did.”
What Next?
Start reading! Look for all these read-aloud books at your local library. Or, better yet, support their talented authors and illustrators by purchasing the works for yourself. Go to your neighborhood bookstore or visit online sites like Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or Powell’s.
If you like this post, please show your support. Take a minute to share this post on your social media platforms or send the link to your friends. Then drop me a quick note in the comment box below or by email here, telling me what you thought about these books and what you’d like me to write about next. I love hearing from you.
Lastly, don’t forget to browse through the diverse things we’ve discussed already. Some of my older posts sample delicious recipes from Egyptian street food, experience the natural beauty of Fujairah in the UAE, highlight the stunning work of six Kuwaiti authors, and show powerful works of Jordanian street art in Amman.
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