A Ramadan to Remember by Marzieh A. Ali illustrated by Najwa Awatiff
A problem solving kid that loves his faith, finds himself in a new neighborhood at the beginning of Ramadan without a mosque or a Muslim community. I appreciate that this 32 page book actually has a bit of a plot, not just the overly done fictional story crafted around basic Ramadan facts of a child’s first fast. Sure, it mentions most of the expected concepts in a similar manner, but it also centers acts of ibaada, shows more than tells, is brightly illustrated, and is unapologetic. The kid is a doer, a problem solver, and isn’t unsure about who he is, which is refreshing. That isn’t to say that it gets everything right, it still attributes fasting to feeling compassion for the poor. Even when a side character challenges the notion, the character doubles down that it makes us more appreciative, which inshaAllah it does, but it isn’t WHY we fast. Overall though, I think the book still is a benefit in Muslim and non Muslim spaces. The story and illustrations make it appealing at story times and bed times, and the backmatter is equally engaging.
The book starts with Zain getting excited for his favorite time of year, Ramadan. Only this year the decorations are still in boxes, Mama and Baba are busy with their new jobs, and there is no mosque or Muslims in the neighborhood. Zain knows, he rides around looking for clues, has even checked the newspaper, and had his dad look on his phone. It is a big change from the Islamic school he used to go to, and the busy mosque he used to volunteer at.
Then Zain gets an idea, to build a mosque with all the moving boxes. Neighbor kids come and ask questions, and Zain is happy to explain as they join in the building. One night while praying outside under the stars in the cardboard mosque, a friend joins the family, and this Ramadan just might turn out to be pretty wonderful after all.
I love that Zain doesn’t wait around for his parents to figure everything out, he is motivated. I also really like that he knows who he is, is comfortable sharing his faith and beliefs, and that the neighbor kids find connections to him, not the other way around. I wish he would find a place to volunteer at, our charity isn’t restricted to helping only Muslims, though I might be the only one to pick up on that unresolved thread. I also get that the kid that joins the salat for story purposes, is seen after prayer, but he didn’t join the prayer right and my older kids were sure to point that out.
The backmatter has a glossary, but in a more engaging format that I think kids will actually stick around for, and the Ramadan essentials and crafts make for a nice extension for those wanting to add a craft to the story time activity.
The book is traditionally published and widely available. You can find it here at Amazon, or here at my favorite store Crescent Moon. It is also available in public libraries and would be a great addition to classroom and school library shelves.
