Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, where fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset. It celebrates the revelation of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, to Muhammed. The end of Ramadan is marked by a feast called Eid-al Fitr. Ramadan is a time when Muslims focus on prayer, study, giving, and humility.
The books below helped our family learn more about Ramadan, the Muslim faith, and the key values that we all share. My hope is that whether your family observes Ramadan, or you want to learn more about this special month of fasting and prayer, you’ll gain knowledge and insight from these books!
13 Children’s Books About Ramadan
Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi
Lailah has moved far away to a new school in a new country. She worries that her new classmates won’t understand why she won’t be eating lunch at school during the month of Ramadan. A wise and helpful teacher and school librarian team up to help her find a way to explain her religion and help her new friends understand and respect her beliefs.
We really enjoyed this book, and Lea Lyon’s illustrations are gentle and beautiful. I recommend reading it with kids ages 5 and up.
The White Nights of Ramadan by Maha Addasi
In the middle of the month of Ramadan, Muslims in the Persian Gulf celebrate a special time called Girgian, centered around the full moon. Young Noor is excited to collect candy from neighbors and spend time with friends. However, she also receives a reminder that the most important things to focus on during Ramadan are family and giving.
This story about a very special aspect of Ramadan is perfect for kids ages 6 and up.
It’s Ramadan, Curious George by H.A. Rey and Hena Khan
In this adorable board book, Curious George joins his friend Kareem and family as they celebrate the first night of Ramadan. George joins in key parts of the celebration, and learns more about what makes Ramadan special.
This book is appropriate for preschoolers, but it was a great introduction for my elementary-aged kids as well.
Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid-al Fitr by Lisa Bullard
Ramadan is a time to focus on good deeds, and Rashad is trying his very best to be good and honor the spirit of this special month. At the end of the month, he celebrates Eid-al Fitr with feasting and fun! This book tells a lovely story and is full of additional facts about the Muslim religion.
I recommend sharing this book with kids ages 4 and up.
My 30 Days of Ramadan by Solmaz Parveen
This activity book makes learning about Ramadan a hands-on experience. There’s a coloring page for every day of the month, so kids can color their way through Ramadan while learning more about this special celebration and the Muslim faith.
This is a perfect teaching tool for elementary-aged kids.
My First Ramadan by Karen Katz
Katz’s series of holiday books are a great way to introduce young kids to special days. This simple story shares the basics of Ramadan as it follows a young boy who is finally old enough to fast for the first time.
This is another book that is great for preschoolers, but is also full of great information for older kids. I learned new things, too!
Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman
The timing of Ramadan is determined by the moon, and the crescent moon is an important part of Muslim symbolism. In this beautiful story, the ritual and meaning of Ramadan is artfully explained, with more details about Ramadan at the end of the book.
This book is a great read-aloud for elementary-aged children.
Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle by Reza Jalali
Nine-year-old Shirin is excited for Ramadan to begin, and she really wants to be able to fast like the rest of her family. However, her parents tell her she is too young to fast, so Shirin must find other ways to observe Ramadan. Shirin focuses on kindness, good deeds, and being nicer to her brother, and she winds up feeling more connected to the Ramadan observance than she ever has before.
I recommend sharing this book with children ages 6 and up.
Crayola ® Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr Colors by Mari Schuh
I have really been impressed with the Crayola Holiday Colors series of books. They do a wonderful job of showcasing the beauty of various world holidays, and this edition is no exception. This book shows the joy and beauty of Ramadan and Eid, and teaches younger children new colors as well.
This is lovely book that will appeal to a variety of ages, from preschool to early elementary.
Ramadan Moon by Na’ima B. Robert
This book follows a young girl and her excitement as the Ramadan moon appears and the month of Ramadan begins. The young narrator takes readers through the various events of Ramadan, including praying in the mosque, readings from the Qur’an, and acts of charity and good deeds. The highlight of Ramadan for the young girl is the Night of Power, a time of forgiveness, atonement, and prayer.
This book teaches about many aspects of Ramadan and is a fantastic choice for sharing with kids ages 5 and up.
The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard
Sophia really wants to fast for the first time during Ramadan this year. However, not having food or water all day is harder than she imagined, and Sophia finds herself giving into temptation and eating some cookies. Can she still be part of the Ramadan festivities, or has she ruined her entire observance?
This lovely story about finding your own way is a great choice for kids ages 4 and up.
Ramadan by Hannah Eliot
I absolutely love the board books from Hannah Eliot’s Celebrate the World series. This volume about Ramadan is absolutely gorgeous and full of valuable information. It explains the Ramadan celebration in a simple and straightforward way. The littlest readers will love the colorful pictures; preschool-aged children will engage with the excellent content.
I recommend sharing this book with readers ages 18 months and up.
A Party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin-Uddin
Leena is too young to fast during all of Ramadan, so she decides that she will fast only on Fridays. She’s very excited to observe Ramadan, but she runs into trouble when she’s invited to a birthday party on a Friday. She decides to attend the party and keep her fast, but that proves to be harder than expected when she sees all of her friends enjoying birthday cake. Will Leena decide to break her fast?
This book about the challenges of following our beliefs is great for kids ages 7 and up.
