10 Picture Books About Ramadan and Eid

Ramadan is a deeply important time for Muslim people. It is a time for reflection and connection that happens mainly through daily fasting and prayer. It lasts for a month, beginning after the crescent moon is seen in the sky during the correct lunar month in the Islamic calendar. If you want to learn more about these two Islamic holidays, here are some fantastic picture books about Ramadan and Eid.

For a few years, I taught in a school that had a large Muslim population. It was always incredibly special to be connected to the Muslim community during the months of Ramadan. I learned a lot about the Muslim families that I worked with and how kind and welcoming they are in their faith. The entire month of Ramadan is spent fasting each day from sunup to sundown, with a large meal to start and end the day. All of the Muslim families in my school community were quick to welcome us, non-Mulsim friends, into their homes for Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at the end of the day.

As a teacher of young children, many of my students weren’t old enough to participate in the daily fasting that occurred, but they were able to honor Ramadan each school day in other ways, like through songs or stories. Since Ramadan is also about connecting to the community, parents and other family members would visit our classroom to talk about Ramadan and all the special meaning it holds. At school, we did special projects, listened to stories, and sang songs.

Another Islamic celebration is Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Sweets. Eid signals the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the next lunar month. It is a joyous and beloved celebration. I felt honored to be included in this festival during those years with my students and their families.

The holiest day of the year for Muslim people occurs during Ramadan, the Qadr Night. It happens during the last ten days of Ramadan, which is considered “the most blessed time.”

A kind way to greet Muslim people during Ramadan is to say “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “blessed Ramadan,” or “Ramadan Kareem,” which means “generous Ramadan.”

Picture Books About Ramadan and Eid

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi and Lea Lyon
Lailah is finally ready to begin fasting for Ramadan. She is excited about this rite of passage, but will her classmates accept her? This is a lovely book for children who are just old enough for fasting, but might have a hard time doing so at school with non-Muslim friends.

Ramadan (Celebrate The World Series) by Hannah Eliot and Rashan Kheiriyeh
A sweet little board book introducing Ramadan to young children. Just right for a first Ramadan or introducing it to toddlers or young preschoolers.

Ramadan by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi and Omar Rayyan
This book is a great choice for preschool to first graders as it gets more in-depth about Ramadan. It follows a family through Ramdan, explaining more about how it is celebrated and why. It includes the prayer and contemplation that Ramadan is all about.

Ramadan Moon by Na’ima B. Robert and Shirin Adl
This picture book is wonderful choice for Muslim and non-Muslim children alike. This book explains more about Ramadan, Eid, and what they mean. It also talks about how they start by watching for the crescent moon.

Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle by Riza Jalali and Ann Sibley O’Brien
This is another one for children who are too young to fast but can find other ways to participate in this special time of year.

Eid Around The World by Sarah Mahdy and Arini Hidayati
Go with young Mira as she explores the world to see how people celebrate Eid. This is a fun choice for young children to learn about other places and people.

Drummer Girl by Hiba Masood, Najiyah Maxfield, and Hoda Hadadi
A young girl really wants to be the musaharati, a drummer that wakes the neighborhood for the pre-dawn meal before the Ramadan fast, but traditionally it is always a male. But can her determination help her fulfill her musaharati dreams?

Once Upon An Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices by S.K Ali, Aisha Saeed, and Sara Alfageeh
This lovely middle grade book for ages eight and up is all about the joyful feelings and memories that Eid conjures in the hearts of 15 different Muslim writers.

Little Leena Learns About Ramadan by Zainab Fadlallah
This cute children’s book is meant for young children just learning about Ramadan for the first time. Leena’s big sister Safiyya explains about Ramadan, causing Leena lots of excitement for the holiday.

However you celebrate or honor this special time, one of the picture books about Ramadan and Eid on this list will make a wonderful addition.

You can also find lots of different activities or foods that you might like to try that are part of Ramadan or Eid, especially dates. Every evening, the Iftar begins by eating some delicious dates to break the day’s fast. In addition, simply spending time reflecting and being kind can be a very meaningful activity.

If you have read some of these picture books about Ramadan and Eid, which one is your favorite?

Ramadan Kareem!

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