These stories share a variety of Ramadan and Eid experiences, from fasting for the first time to celebrating in a home. Hand them to young readers leading up to the holy month and all year long.

Ramadan

Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi. illus. by author. HarperAlley. ISBN 9780063355675. 
Gr 5-8–Seventh grader Hassan is fasting for the month of Ramadan. Despite the challenges of balancing his faith with school and extracurricular obligations, Hassan is dedicated to fasting throughout the month. VERDICT A necessary mirror for middle grade Muslim readers, and a tremendous window into the customs of Ramadan for peers and educators to learn more about Islamic traditions.

 A Ramadan To Remember by Marzieh A Ali. narrated by Ali Nasser. Dreamscape Audio.  ISBN 9781666652277.
K-Gr 3–Ramadan is Zain’s favorite time of the year, but his family has recently moved to a new neighborhood without an obvious Muslim population. His imagination, however, is cleverly resourceful: empty moving boxes become a mosque in their yard and curious passersby give Zain opportunities to share his heritage. VERDICT Schools and libraries should add this title to their shelves.

[Read: Fasting and Feasting: 6 Picture Books About Ramadan]

 Ramadan on Rahma Road: A Recipe Storybook by Razeena Omar Gutta & Faaiza Osman. illus. by Atieh Sohrabi. Barefoot Bks. ISBN 9798888593646. 
PreS-Gr 3–It’s the holy month of Ramadan, and the families on Rahma Road are having their annual community iftar meal. Designed as both a story and a cookbook, each spread includes a peek into a family’s kitchen alongside a special recipe. VERDICT An exceptional book about Ramadan that celebrates the breaking of the daily fast and the sharing of the transcendent power of food.

The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri. ­illus. by author. Interlink/Crocodile. ISBN 9781623716189. 
PreS-Gr 2–Deenie is a Muslim girl, ready to try fasting for the annual holiday of Ramadan. By sharing her experience, she introduces readers to a tradition that goes way beyond the giving up of food. VERDICT An excellent addition to collections needing simply told stories about Islam.

Eid

Excited for Eid by Marzieh Abbas. illus. by Anoosha Syed. little bee. ISBN 9781499816259.
Toddler-PreS–This rhyming board book sweetly and succinctly uses a few words per page to describe a Muslim family’s Eid celebrations, successfully conveying a great deal of information about the holiday. VERDICT A welcome addition to the limited but growing collection of children’s books about this celebration.

The Eidi Bag by Shazia Afzal. illus. by Shiva Delsooz. Owlkids. ISBN 9781771475426. 
K-Gr 2–When Eid ul-Fitr arrives in her new hometown, Sarah anticipates receiving gifts of money just like in she did in Pakistan. This year, her Eidi bag is not as full of money as she expected. As guests come to her home, each with a different gift, Sarah comes to appreciate a new way of celebrating her beloved holiday. VERDICT Celebrating community and evolving traditions, this book would make a good addition to a holiday book collection.

Eid for Nylah by Nizrana Farook. illus. by Zelma Firdauzia. Nosy Crow. ISBN 9798887771250. 
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. 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.” VERDICT A sweet story of Eid al-Fitr that underscores the universal experience of families celebrating a religious holiday together.

[Read: Waiting for the Crescent Moon: 5 Books About Eid al-Fitr]

The House Without Lights: A Glowing Celebration of Joy, Warmth, and Home by Reem Faruqi. illus. by Nadia Alam. Holt. ISBN 9781250907219. 
PreS-Gr 3–The darkest home in the neighborhood, House is thrilled to welcome its new family. House waits patiently, but Huda’s family doesn’t decorate for the holidays. When Eid arrives a few months later, House twinkles: “It was finally House’s turn to shine.” VERDICT Lyrical and lovely. Recommended for all collections.

Maymoona’s Moon: A Special Eid Story by Razeena Omar Gutta. illus. by Zayneb Haleem. Hardie Grant. ISBN 9781761211898.
PreS-Gr 3–Maymoona plans to be an astronaut when she grows up. Thus, the job of spotting the crescent moon, the signal that Ramadan has ended and Eid has begun, is the perfect task for her. Amid family support and encouragement, Maymoona climbs a backyard tree and waits for the clouds to reveal the moon. VERDICT A sweet purchase for libraries to boost Muslim picture book collections.

The Gift of Eid by Shifa Saltagi Safadi. illus. by Aaliya Jaleel. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823455652. 
PreS-Gr 3–A young girl named Yasmine is shopping at the market with her mother on the eve of their first Eid holiday since Yasmine’s father died. When Yasmine’s mom asks what she wants for an Eid gift, Yasmine thinks, “I’d rather hear Mama’s tinkling laugh than the jingle of jewelry.” Safadi portrays Yasmine’s journey through the market to find the perfect gift to make her mother smile again. VERDICT A solid choice for libraries, especially those looking to expand their Arab heritage representation.