A Golden Eid

PreS-Gr 1–Hafsa, a young girl with dark hair and light brown skin, gazes at the sliver of crescent moon hanging in the night sky; it’s almost Eid al-Fitr, the end of ­Ramadan. After a month of prayer and fasting, Hafsa is eager to enjoy the delicious dishes Mama and Abu are preparing for the family’s Eid feast; especially her favorite, halwa. Soon, the table is laden with irresistible, aromatic food, but Abu begins to pack up the spread, “Get your shoes on, Hafsa. We’re taking some to our neighbors and friends.” Hafsa is disheartened that the feast is slowly diminishing, distributed across the neighborhood, but their final visit to a lonely woman helps her understand the true essence of Eid. In this character-driven story, Khan (­Safiyyah’s War) invites readers in as guests for the family’s observation of Eid, while weaving in an opportunity for ­social-emotional learning. Digitally rendered illustrations by Jadmiko are richly colored, depicting the cozy details of everyday life, and warmly enticing readers into feeling at home with Hafsa’s family. This is Jadmiko’s first picture book. Back ­matter offers a recipe for halwa and ­instructions for crafting Eid bunting. ­