Ramadan

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata. illus. by author. Viking. ISBN 9780593117118.
Gr 6-9–Nayra wants to be accepted for herself, but between pressures put on her by her family for not being like her siblings and bullying she faces at school for being Muslim, there are very few places where she feels safe. Things get particularly bad during Ramadan when her classmates constantly make fun of her and her friend Rami for fasting.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg. Underlined. ISBN 9780593482629.
Gr 7 Up–A gentle story of faith, family, and love. Right before Ramadan, Dua's family goes to New York City to spend the holy month with Dua’s uncle, aunt, and cousins. Hand this book to fans of S.K. Ali’s Love From A to Z. A good purchase for YA collections, especially for libraries serving Muslim and Desi communities.

[See also: 6 Titles That Spotlight Ramadan and Eid for Young Readers]

 Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Versify. ISBN 9780358694090.
PreS-Gr 3–The moon is personified as a delighted individual peeking in around the world as different Islamic cultures celebrate Ramadan and Eid. A delightful read that teaches students about Ramadan and emphasizes the diversity in the Islamic world. This book will definitely be a go-to for librarians and teachers who want to expand awareness of Ramadan.

Zahra’s Blessing: A Ramadan Story by Shirin Shamsi. illus. by Manal Mirza. Barefoot. ISBN 9781646864942.
K-Gr 4–Zahra prays for two things during the holy month of Ramadan: to find her beloved Teddy, who is missing, and for her parents to give her a sister. Throughout the pages of the story, which show the traditions and religious obligations during the month of Ramadan, Zahra also volunteers at a local shelter with her parents to help others in need—specifically Haleema, a young girl who Zahra quickly befriends.

Eid

Treasury of Eid Tales by Fawzia Gilani-Williams. illus. by Sarah Nesti Willard. Paw Prints. ISBN 9781223186139.
K-Gr 4–In this collection of 14 stories, each one opens and closes with a verse quoted from the Quran that pertains to the topic or theme of the story. The main theme in every story is to instill readers with a sense of doing right, and of good winning out each time. A nice addition for larger libraries looking to expand their religious stories collection.

The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil. illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano. ISBN 9780316319331.
PreS-Gr 2–Zain’s Teita (Grandma) has just arrived from Egypt and is going to teach him how to make ka’ak, the sweet Eid cookie. The little boy plans to bring the treats to school the next day and share them with his classmates. The next day arrives, and his classmates love the delectable cookies and even ask for the recipe.