Ramadan Moon

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 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 beautiful 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

Book Review by MuslimMummies Blog

"The moon is important in Islam as the crescent moon signifies the start of the Islamic month…and all are looking out for the Ramadan Moon to know when Ramadan begins. Therefore it makes sense to have a book titled Ramadan Moon!

The book is different in the sense that it is written in a lyrical manner but this is what makes it more engaging for the children in particular. Although the information about Ramadan is basic, all important aspects of Ramadan are covered. From waiting for the moon, fasting and praying, eating after sunset, giving to charity, to finishing with the Night of Power and Eid.

A lovely book to introduce the main points of Ramadan and sharing the excitement felt by Muslims all over the world. What I particularly thought was a nice touch was that the book mentioned the end of Ramadan and the bittersweet feeling that it is over and having to wait for another year for it to return."

Book Review by Islamic School Librarian Blog

"This book is fantastic and one of my children’s favorite.  The text is lyrical and simple and the pictures are charming and sweet.  I wait for the day I can read this to a larger group of children than just my own, but until then I have no problem reading this one over and over again.  It has an AR level of 4.6 and is 28 pages.

Told from a child’s perspective and voice, the free verse poetry lilts around in a playful way conveying what Ramadan is, what fasting is like, going to the mosque, what Muslim prayers entail, giving charity, being kind, and celebrating Eid.  While it would work for both Muslim and non-Muslim children, the vocabulary isn’t well defined and there really isn’t a story it is more of an overview.  Muslim children will enjoy it because they are familiar and probably have experienced most everything presented, however, if that connection isn’t made, the story may fall a bit flat.  That being said a brief explanation can easily erase that obstacle and make it a fun book for all kids pre-school and up."

Book Review by Iqra Fiaz - Goodreads.com Reader

"This books is great because it balances non-fiction with fun. It is a great way of educating children on one of the months of the Islamic Calendar, without overloading them with the facts. The poetry makes it easier to listen to/ read.
I really liked the collage type illustrations with various details to notice and talking points."

Book Review by Asmaa - Goodreads.com Reader

"A lovely picture book to introduce the Islamic month of Ramadhan and the celebration of Eid that follows. The illustrations are colourful and have a collage-type effect, which will appeal to younger readers. The language used is easy to understand and provides an understanding of what Muslims do during Ramadhan and some of the reasons as to why (feeling grateful, doing good deeds, remembering God)."

Details

Title: Ramadan Moon
Author: Na'ima B. Robert
Illustrator: Shirin Adl
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books - UK
Pages: 32
Volumes: 1
Size:  21.5 cm x 26.9 cm
Binding: Paperback
Recommended Age Group:  4 - 7 years
Edition Number: 1st
Year Of Publication: 2011
Weight:  0.12 kg

Author Profile

NA'IMA B ROBERT is descended from Scottish Highlanders on her father's side and the Zulu people on her mother's side. She was born in Leeds, grew up in Zimbabwe and went to university in London. At high school, her loves included performing arts, public speaking and writing stories that shocked her teachers! She has written several multicultural books for children and is the author of 'From Somalia, with love', a novel for young adults. 'Boy vs Girl' is her second books for teens. She divides her time between London and Cairo and dreams of living on a farm with her own horses. Until then, she is happy to be a mum to her four children and keep reading and writing books that take her to a different world each time.

Illustrator Profile

Shirin Adl was born in Harlow, England, in 1975. She received a first class BA honours in illustration from Loughborough University, and won the Hallmark M&S division Talented Designer Award. She currently lives in Oxford with her husband.