Eid for Nylah

PreS-Gr 2–Nylah the neighborhood cat just wants to find someone to play with, but in every house she visits, the families are busy. Some are cleaning or decorating their home while others are baking or wrapping presents. In each home, Nylah makes a mess, and a child who is helping his or her family must gently tell Nylah that it isn’t play time. “Poor Nylah!” The adorable cat doesn’t know that they are preparing for Eid al-Fitr. Finally, Eid arrives, and the Muslim families come together in the park for a day of community prayer and celebration—and “everyone had time to play with Nylah.” Firdauzia uses bright, two-dimensional drawings to capture inviting home interiors that are filled with kind, connected families. Background tones of turquoise, blue, and pink complement the happy faces and colorful clothing. Elements of Muslim life are depicted, including a mosque in the background of one spread and women wearing headscarves. The author’s endnote states that although the book is based on her childhood, Eid customs may differ as the Muslim community is diverse. Even the new moon of Shawwal, shown in a beautiful spread toward the beginning, can look different, depending on the location where it is viewed, Farook explains.