Shirin is anxious to fast, but her family encourages her to find other ways to celebrate Ramadan — perhaps by doing some extra good deeds. No one is more surprised than Shirin when she decides to do a good deed that will benefit her older brother! Readers will appreciate the special Ramadan traditions of Shirin’s family, as well as their discussion other family’s customs. Richly painted illustrations convey the warmth of the story.
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Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle
Reza Jalali
Illustrator:
Anne Sibley O'Brien Age Level:
6-9
As Nabeel prepares to celebrate Eid, he buys gifts for his family and a pair of new pants for himself. The pants, however, are four fingers too long and no one has time to shorten them
or so Nabeel thinks! A colorful, humorous version of a folk story familiar in many cultures which will serve as an entertaining read-aloud for young children.
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Nabeel’s New Pants: An Eid Tale
Fawzia Gilani-Williams
Illustrator:
Proiti Roy Age Level:
3-6
“Look! There is the new moon in the sky.” With this engaging opening, readers meet a young boy celebrating Ramadan. Bright illustrations and a child’s perspective make this an excellent choice for introducing young children to Ramadan, Eid, and the shared celebrations of Muslims around the world.
Book Details
My First Ramadan
Karen Katz
Age Level:
0-3
During Ramadan, this loving family prays and fasts together. They also stop bad habits, give to the poor, hang bright lights, and visit friends — all under the Ramadan moon! Lush pastel illustrations fill the pages with soft moonlight, the warmth of friends and family, and beautiful designs at the Mosque. Children will enjoy repeating the lyrical refrain that appears throughout the story. Author’s note included.
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Under the Ramadan Moon
Sylvia Whitman
Illustrator:
Garth Williams Age Level:
6-9
During the middle of Ramadan, Noor is preparing for Girgian, a special celebration that takes places in countries of the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf region. She and her brothers will dress in traditional clothes and collect candy in fancy bags that they have decorated — much like trick-or-treating. Young readers will enjoy learning about this celebration, as well as other important aspects of Ramadan. Lovely oil paintings bring Noor’s preparations and this moonlit celebration to life.
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The White Nights of Ramadan
Maha Addasi
Illustrator:
Ned Gannon Age Level:
6-9
One evening, Yasmeen’s mother pulls aside the curtain and tells her daughter to look at the thin crescent moon. In the Islamic calendar, she explains, it is a month of new beginnings — Ramadan. Each night, Yasmeen watches the moon change until the special Night of the Moon celebration. Vibrant illustrations convey the magic of Ramadan and its special traditions.
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Night of the Moon
Hena Khan
Illustrator:
Julie Paschkis Age Level:
6-9
Learn about Ramadan and its traditions through the eyes of young Hakeem. Intricate illustrations including Islamic motifs accompany an informative and engaging text.
Book Details
Ramadan
Suhaib Hamid Ghazi
Illustrator:
Omar Rayyan Age Level:
3-6
It is the first day of Ramadan, but everyone tells Magid he is too young to fast. “You will fast when you are older,” says his grandfather. When Magid decides he is ready, he keeps his decision a secret from his family — but were they right after all? Illustrations in watercolor portray a lovely Egyptian setting for the story.
Book Details
Magid Fasts for Ramadan
Mary Matthews
Illustrator:
E.B. Lewis Age Level:
9-12
As Ramadan approaches, Leena is ready to fast with her family. Then she receives an invitation for a classmate’s party on the same day of a special family meal to break the fast. Leena’s decisions about fasting and the support she receives from her family and friends make this a wonderful story for talking about Ramadan. Lovely pastel illustrations complement the heartfelt story.
Book Details
A Party in Ramadan
Asma Mobin-Uddin
Illustrator:
Laura Jacobsen Age Level:
6-9
Who would have thought that a career changing light bulbs could be so exciting? On career day, the young narrator describes accompanying her dad to work at the Empire State Building! Imaginative illustrations bring a job and a city vividly to life.
Book Details
The Top Job
Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
6-9
Young children will enjoy counting not-so-scary monsters from one to 10. Bright color and strong line on sturdy pages should hold up to multiple readings. Just right for Halloween and beyond.
Book Details
Too Many Monsters: A Halloween Counting Book
Robert Neubecker
Age Level:
0-3
Looking straight at the reader, Sophie Peterman gives them the actual lowdown on a new sibling in the family and why you should never admit you like them, until Sophie let slips otherwise. Humor and wisdom combine in this seamless combination of text and image.
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Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth
Sarah Weeks
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
3-6
A series of rhymes describes one child’s school year from “school fever” before classes start to the realization that a lot has been learned over the months before summer vacation. Bold lines and bright color add texture and humor to the poems.
Book Details
School Fever
Brod Bagert
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
6-9
Young monsters use large construction equipment to build a haunted house. They take a break and a nap after their witchy mother brings a midday snack. The rhyming text and offbeat cartoon illustrations make this an appealing tale all year.
Book Details
Monsters on Machines
Deb Lund
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
3-6
Franny and Blue are the narrator’s dogs. They don’t know many tricks but undeniably love their human. The frantic pace of the rhyme is matched by bouncy line illustrations and hand-lettered text. A CD of the author reading and singing the story is included.
Book Details
I Got Two Dogs
John Lithgow
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
3-6
Hattie is a happy albeit rather clueless hippo. In four short, rhyming vignettes, readers see Hattie dance, play, swim, and host a party all with funny results. Lots of white space highlights the amusing hippo obliviously doing her very best.
Book Details
Hattie Hippo
Christine Loomis
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
3-6
A group of children start a neighborhood dog wash and begin bathing a variety of canines with a tub and a hose. It all goes swimmingly — until a feline arrives on the scene. Humor abounds in the short, rhyming text and energetic, comic illustrations.
Book Details
The Great Dog Wash
Shellie Braeuner
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
3-6
A blue boy leaves his blue homeland to travel. Though he finds mono-colored places, it is the multihued place that he likes best but discovers there is no blue — until he contributes it. While not subtle, the story is appealing and should generate discussion.
Book Details
Courage of the Blue Boy
Robert Neubecker
Age Level:
6-9
A child dressed as a monster occasionally behaves like one as she prepares for bed. Children and parents alike will recognize the charismatic child who views herself as all kinds of creatures — until she falls asleep and becomes the sweet little girl she really is.
Book Details
Beastly Bath
Robert Neubecker
Age Level:
3-6
Ellie and her brother accompany their pilot father in his airplane to an air show where they see a host of airplanes; Ellie even gets to ride in a stunt plane. Cartoon illustrations in an oversize format detail every aspect of planes from the instrument panel to the vehicles themselves.
Book Details
Air Show
Treat Williams
Illustrator:
Robert Neubecker Age Level:
6-9
Yoko is ready for kindergarten! She can write her name, write numbers, and read stories. There is only one problem, though — she does it all in Japanese, and her classmates make fun of her scribbles. Can her new friend convince her that knowing a secret language isn’t such a bad thing after all? Wells offers a loving, empathetic story that young ELLs will easily relate to, as well as a thoughtful portrayal of a teacher who embraces her young student’s native language in the classroom.
Book Details
Yoko Writes Her Name
Rosemary Wells
Age Level:
3-6
When Sumi arrives at her big new school, she thinks that it is a lonely, scary, and mean place. Throughout the day, however, little things begin to change her mind and give her hope. An excellent portrayal of what the first day of school is like for both new students and ELLs. Expressive illustrations convey Sumi’s emotions throughout the course of her first day.
Book Details
Sumi’s First Day of School Ever
Soyoung Pak
Illustrator:
Joung Un Kim Age Level:
6-9
Poverty didn’t stop this girl from working hard, reading lots of books, and graduating top in her class. Meet young Sonia Sotomayor, the child who grew up to become the first Latina Supreme Court justice. Her life is presented through a jaunty, positive narrative and warm-toned illustrations that capture the warmth and joy of Sotomayor’s family and story. A bit of background information concludes the engaging glimpse of a contemporary figure.
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx / La juez que crecio en el Bronx
Jonah Winter
Illustrator:
Edel Rodriguez Age Level:
6-9 Genre:
Biography, Nonfiction
A stick-figure boy enlivens his dreary town called Cementland when he discovers and plants a treasure. To protect it from robbers, he creates a scarecrow-like creature from various paraphernalia but winds up befriending the thieves. Hand-written text ideally complements the rich, active illustrations.
The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone
Timothy Basil Ering
Age Level:
6-9 Genre:
Fiction, Fantasy