HAMZA AND ALIYA SHARE THE RAMADAN CHEER

A brother and sister decide to embrace the joys of Ramadan in this picture book.

Siblings Hamza and Aliya wake up one morning to find that their parents are preparing for the month-long observance of Ramadan. After seeing the new moon that marks the beginning of Ramadan, the kids write down their resolutions for the holy month, and they help Mama bake plenty of treats with which to break their fast each night. One day, Mama is exhausted after preparing lots of food, and takes a nap. Hamza and Aliya decide to make a treat for Mama, calling up their grandmother, who guides them through whipping up no-bake date balls. Mama is delighted when she wakes up and tries them. The book contains recipes for all the desserts mentioned in the charming story as well as some informative background on the role of dates and honey in the Qur’an. Khan’s vibrant illustrations help set the celebratory tone of the tale. There is not a lot of description of Ramadan itself, implying that this work is intended for Muslim children who are already familiar with the holy month.

A sweet tale about siblings who participate in the giving spirit of Ramadan.