As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, many families are preparing for the festivities of Eid al-Fitr, a holiday that commemorates the end of Ramadan with prayers, feasting, and time spent among family and friends. To celebrate, we’ve gathered a recommendation list of nine picture books that celebrate the traditions of Eid and the spirit of togetherness that the day represents.
Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story by Hena Khan, Illustrated by Julie Paschkis
A modern Eid classic, this sweet title tells the story of Ramadan and Eid celebrations through the eyes of Yasmeen, a young Pakistani-American girl. Framed by the phases of the moon as the month passes, Yasmeen, along with her friends and family, guides readers through the cultural and culinary traditions of the Pakistani-Muslim diaspora celebrated during Ramadan and Eid, while also weaving in touching moments of familial love and growing up. Both an authentic representation of Muslim families and communities who celebrate and a primer that invites non-Muslims to learn more about the annual celebration, this book is a great place to start an Eid TBR list for young readers.
The Gift of Eid by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
Set in Damascus, this touching retelling of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi opens with Yasmine and her Mama shopping in the Souq al-Hamidiyeh marketplace as Eid approaches. Baba — Yasmine’s father — is no longer with them, and money is particularly tight for the pair. Determined to cheer her mother up with the perfect Eid gift, Yasmine sells a beloved gold chain to buy Mama a jewelry box to keep the woman’s bracelet in. Yet when the two exchange gifts, Mama presents her with a locket for the chain, having sold the bracelet to afford it. Set amongst beautiful artwork of the Syrian capital, this read breathes new life into a classic story of sacrifice and unconditional love.
Eid for Nylah by Nizrana Farook, Illustrated by Zelma Firdauzia
Nylah the cat isn’t a stray, she’s a community cat; a cat with several homes and families that welcome her with play and food. Yet tonight, none of the neighbors seem to have time to play with Nylah, as they are all busy in one way or another: sweeping and tidying, trying on new clothes, decorating with ribbons and balloons, or painting intricate henna designs on their hands. As Nylah wanders from house to house, she wonders what all the hustle and fuss is for, yet when all the neighbors make their way to the park for the community celebration, all becomes clear. A clever concept for exploring the unique ways that Muslims of different regional cultures celebrate Eid, this is a wonderful read to celebrate the diversity within Islam.
Amira’s Picture Day by Reem Faruqi, Illustrated by Fahmida Azim
Young Amira is thrilled to celebrate Eid! Her hands are decorated in special mehndi designs that her mom drew for her, she has her brand new outfit, and she’s prepared all the goody bags to hand out at the masjid. She’s even excited to skip school the next day…until she sees a flyer on the fridge and remembers that Picture Day is tomorrow! As happy as she is about the Eid festivities, Amira is dismayed that she’ll miss her class pictures with her friends. Is there a way that she can do both? Filled with humor and heart, this is a lovely and inclusive look at how an American Muslim community celebrated Eid as well as a deeply relatable story for any kid who wishes they could be two places at once.
The Best Eid Ever by Sufiya Ahmed, Illustrated by Hazem Asif
Ramadan is almost over, and Aisha is ready for Eid to begin the next day! There are a lot of fun things to do, such as decorating their home, indulging in yummy treats, and seeing her friends and family at the mosque, but Aisha is looking forward to one thing in particular: presents! Her family has promised her and her brother an epic treasure hunt for gifts when they return home, and Aisha is eager to start the fun. However, she may find that while presents are a great part of Eid, they’re not the only part that counts. Young readers of any faith will empathize with Aisha’s impatience for the gift-opening part of the holiday and an expansive glossary and fun facts section in the backmatter is great for those just learning about Ramadan and Eid.
Eid by Roger Priddy
For the very littlest of readers, this touch-and-feel board book is not only a perfect introduction to elements of Eid, but a chance to practice early reading skills. Each page offers an illustration or photo of an Eid-related concept or item, such as “mosque,” “prayer,” or “family,” along with the vocabulary word in large-print, easily legible text. Many of the pages also feature engaging sensory elements, such as a shiny, silky ribbon on a pile of gifts or a glittering crescent moon. This would make a delightful addition — perhaps even a lovely Eid gift — to any baby’s library, especially for families who celebrate.
The Most Exciting Eid by Zeba Talkhani, Illustrated by Abeeha Tariq
As the new moon peeks into the night sky, Safa is delighted: it’s time to celebrate Eid! After preparing and decorating with her mom and dad, she goes to sleep dreaming of the presents she’ll open the next day. Lo and behold, she gets everything she asked Allah for! Yet when family comes over to celebrate, Safa refuses her cousin Alissa a turn on her new bicycle. Later, when she and her mother visit neighbors to share Eid treats with them, Safa begins to feel guilty; after all, Eid is a time of sharing and togetherness, and her actions toward Alissa are not representative of that. The story is a spirited look at how Muslim families celebrate the holiday, but there’s a lovely theme of gratitude, generosity, and community throughout as well.
The Eidi Bag by Shazia Afzal, Illustrated by Shiva Delsooz
Sarah has recently relocated with her family from Pakistan to her new home country and is keen to celebrate Eid with her new community. As the day dawns, she eagerly dons her Eidi bag; in Pakistan, friends and family would fill the bag with coins after prayers. Sarah plans to spend the eidi, or money gift, on presents for her friends, hoping only to save enough to buy a new set of markers for herself. However, while the people at the mosque compliment the bag, not a single person offers her any eidi. Her mother explains that celebrations may be different in this new community, and guests arrive at her family’s open house with gifts for her — including a new set of markers — she finds that her mother was right. A charming yet poignant tale of adjusting to a new place and the joy of discovering new traditions, this one is a must-read.
The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil, Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Little Zain is so happy that Teita, his grandmother, has made the long journey from Egypt to visit him and his family for Eid this year. He is especially eager to help her make her famed ka’ak cookies for the first time, knowing that the ka’ak have a special place in both their family memories and cultural traditions. Teita has brought everything they need: ghee, dates, honey, and the special ka’ak mold. Unfortunately, Zain’s exuberance accidentally leads to the mold being broken! With Teita’s encouragement and the reminder to practice patience, Zain comes up with a solution and is overjoyed to share the cookies with his friends at school the next day. This is a warm and cozy family tale with plenty of beautiful themes to enjoy, including resilience, intergenerational family relationships, and Egyptian-Muslim culture.
We hope that you and your young readers check out the books on this list, and if you celebrate Eid, we hope that they add extra fun to the festivities. Happy reading, and Eid Mubarak!
For more of our favorite picture books on Muslim culture, check out our article on Picture Books That Offer Hijabi Representation.
To see all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
