5 Ramadan Books That Every Nursery and School Should Have

It’s that time of the year, that millions of Muslims are getting ready to welcome a blessed month of fasting , spirituality and togetherness of the Muslim community- the month of Ramadan.  This month of mercy brings many joys and happiness along with hard work and patience , all anxious to earn the great reward, that Ramadan bestows.  However, I feel there is an immense lack of understanding of this special month for Muslims, amongst our  non Muslim friends , neighbours  and society . I feel that it is particularly neglected in our schools,especially  on a primary level. I also believe that when  Muslim school children  hear their teacher talk about their faith, it gives them a greater sense of belonging and inclusiveness in the school environment. Their faith is no longer the outsider, as it is discussed in the mainstream.  So if you are a primary teacher, childminder, nursery practitioner or anyone else involved with children (Muslims and non Muslims), here are my 5 book recommendations, that will give you more understanding of Ramadan.

1)   Ramadan ( Celebrate the World)

Author: Hannah Eliot

Illustrator- Rashin

Board book

Age group-2-4 years

Publisher -Little Simon

“Learn all about the traditions of Ramadan with this first book in the brand new-board book series “Celebrate the world, which highlights celebrations across the globe” .I was really pleasantly surprised by this lovely book.  I was looking for a Ramadan board book to include in my 2 year old’s Ramadan basket and after a bit of research, I found this beauty.Firstly,  the illustrations are so colourful and vibrant  that they will definitely captivate your child . It is a brilliant book for not only Muslims but also non Muslims, as it explains the meaning of Ramadan in a simple way. If you are a preschool teacher or childminder working with young children, this book will definitely be good for a circle/story time, as young children will be able to grasp the concept of Ramadan. It can be purchased on Amazon- Ramadan (Celebrate the World)

2) It’s Ramadan, Curious George

Writer:Hena Khan

Illustrator: Mary O’Keefe Young

Board book

Reading level -2-7 years

Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

“Its the first day of Ramadan, and George is celebrating with his friend Kareem and his family. George helps Kareem with his first fast and joins in the evening celebration of tasting treats and enjoying a special meal. Then, George helps make gift baskets to donate to the needy, and watches for the crescent moon with the man in the yellow hat. Finally George joins in the Eid festivities to mark the end of his very first Ramadan”

This is another fantastic book for young children aged 2-6. It is a great book to introduce Islam to small children ( Muslims and non Muslims ) through such a well loved character as George. I mean , how can you not love George- his curiosity and innocence? We have a few books from the writer Hena Khan and this one again doesn’t disappoint.  I love the fact that it is not too simple and that the writer manages to show all the different aspects of Ramadan – the beginning of the special month, what a fasting day looks like for George and Kareem, breaking the fast , doing good deeds such as sharing food with those less fortunate , being charitable and the Eid celebrations, marking the end of the blessed month.  The illustrations are super cute and adorable and all children will really enjoy them.  It can be purchased from Amazon- It’s Ramadan, Curious George

3) Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns – A Muslim book of colours

Author- Hena Khan

Illustrator- Mehrdokht Amini

Reading level- 2-5 years

Paperback

Publisher- Chronicle Books

“With breathtaking illustrations and informative text, Golden domes and Silver Lanterns magnificently captures the world of Islam,  celebrating its beauty and traditions  for even the youngest readers. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, this entrancing volume is equally at home in the classroom, as it is being read to a child on a parent’s lap”

If there is one thing that it is guaranteed about this book is that your young readers will absolutely be captivated by the stunning illustrations. The artwork is mesmerising and stunning. The illustrator Mehrdokht Amini was inspired by the idea of bringing classical elements of Islamic art in a modern setting.  The book  has simple rhyming text and it is not only a great way for children to learn their colours with an Islamic/Ramadan twist, but also learn some of the key words associated with Islam , such as Mecca, Quran hijab,kufi, Eid, Zakat, fanoos and many more. In my opinion, this is one of those books which can be read throughout the year and not just for Ramadan. What I really love about the book is that there is a Glossary at the end  which gives simple and precise explanations of all the words , mentioned in the book. So ,if you are a teacher or a nursery practitioner/childminder, you will not need to do the extra work and find the definitions yourself.  The book can be bought from Amazon-Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns

4) Ramadan Moon

Writer – Naima B Robert

Illustartor- Shirin Ali

Reading level 4-7

Publisher- Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

 

“Ramadan, the month of  fasting, doesn’t begin all at once, it begins with a whisper and a prayer and a wish. Muslims all over the world celebrate Ramadan and the joyful days of Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of the month of fasting as the most special time of the year. This lyrical and inspiring picture book captures the wonder and joy of this great annual event, from the perspective of a child. Accompanied by Iranian inspired illustrations, the story follows the waxing of the moon from the first new crescent to full moon and waning until Eid is heralded by the first sighting of the second new moon and waning until Eid is heralded by the first sighting of the second new moon. Written and illustrated by Muslims , this is a book for all children, who celebrate Ramadan and those in wider communities who want to understand why this is such a special experience for Muslims”

Although this book has been pitched at a reading level 4-7, I definitely feel it is more for children aged 7 and above. Younger children may not be able to read it on their own, as it is a bit wordy ,however they will certainly enjoy it as a read aloud and it makes a great addition for story time.  The illustrations are bold and colourful and very captivating and both young and older children will enjoy looking at them. I would like to point out that the book does not include a lot of factual information in regards to what Ramadan means. It is , however a beautiful poetic book for primary aged children, who already may be aware of what Ramadan is. Link to the book can be found here- Ramadan Moon

5) “Ramadan around the world”

Writer- NDAA Hassan

Illustrator- Azra Momin

Hardback

Reading level- 6 and above

 

This book is definitely one of the most expensive ones, retailing at £19.99. However , as cheesy as it may sound, it is definitely worth every single penny.  It shows children of various nationalities and how they celebrate Ramadan with their own families and communities from Mexico , Palestine,  Senegal to all the way in Australia. But what I absolutely love about this book is that Ndaa Hassan not only includes  families from various backgrounds( single mother, two-parents home,  children raised only by grandparents) but also children who have different abilities and disabilities such as autism. hearing-impairment, diabetes etc. This is one of the first Ramadan books for children which I have seen that  focuses not only on inclusion but also acceptance of diverse abilities and family types. The illustrations are done by the talented Azra Momin. We have a few books which have been illustrated by her ( Allah made everything by Zain Bhika, The Missing socks by Elizabeth Lymer and many more) and they are certainly stunning to say the least, full of colours , beautifully depicting the scenes of Ramadan festivities around the world. At the end of the book, there is a glossary and also a page with more information about Ramadan. The book can be purchased from Anafiya Gifts- Ramadan Around the World