Glenwood Elementary student Alishba Zeeshan recommends Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan for Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, the holy month of Ramadan began on March 10 and ends on April 9, 2024.
I adore the feelings of love and joy it brings to families as people come together. During Ramadan, you fast from sunrise (suhoor) to sunset (iftar). Although it is sometimes difficult to fast, it is a reminder to be grateful for the food you have and to practice patience. As a little kid, I simply couldn’t wait to fast for the first time and I was thrilled with my first experience.
I recommend the book Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan because it covers all the main points of Ramadan, such as praying, fasting, donating, family dinners, and gift-giving. It shows how Ramadan is more than not eating and drinking. It also talks about Eid, my favourite holiday!
Eid al-Fitr is a celebration after the last day of Ramadan where families get together and exchange money and gifts, wear beautiful traditional clothing, and eat mouthwatering foods.
My favourite part of this book is how it shows the phases of the moon as the month progresses. I also love how relatable it is to my experience with the parties and mehndi (henna) designs. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, and maybe learn something new about this wonderful holiday in the process.
Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story is available in SD42 libraries.
- Learn more in the Ramadan Virtual Classroom created by Highland Park Elementary teacher Yin Tsia (click the images to browse).
