Picture books about Eid and Ramadan for Kids

Updated 1 March 2024

Are you looking for resources about Ramadan for kids?

These 12 picture books about Ramadan for kids are a great way to introduce children to the Muslim celebrations of Ramadan and Eid.

I am not of the Muslim faith but I share these books with the children I teach because I think it’s important for our kiddos to understand and respect the beliefs of others from the time they’re young.

So what is Ramadan?

When does Ramadan happen and why?

How do Muslims celebrate Ramadan?

The month of Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It’s the month in which Muslims believe that God revealed the Quran to their profit, Muhammed, through the angel Gabriel.

The time when Ramadan will be observed each year is calculated using the lunar calendar which is different from the Gregorian calendar we use today. Each month begins when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted and Ramadan occurs on a different date every year. In 2024, Ramadan begins on Sunday 10 March 2024 and ends in the evening of Tuesday 9 April 2024.

Muslims observe Ramadan through prayer, fasting, performing acts of charity and reading the Quran. Fasting begins before sunrise when a special breakfast is shared and ends after sunset with a wonderful dinner called iftar which, again, is shared with friends and family.

At the end of Ramadan, there is a special period called Eid or Eid al-Fitr, a three-day long celebration which marks the end of the holy month.

Picture Books about Ramadan for Kids

These 12 children’s books about Ramadan are perfect for sharing with Muslim and non-Muslim children to explain Ramadan and Eid. I’ve chosen these books because each one adds something significant to children’s understanding of Ramadan.

Sometimes a book might be included because it focuses on a different aspect of Ramadan or because it explains the celebrations in a unique way. There are also books for all age groups, including some which are a great introduction for older children – and even adults – who aren’t familiar with these celebrations.

These books about Ramadan for kids taught me a lot I didn’t know about Ramadan and Eid. I hope you and your children enjoy them.

Booktopia | Amazon*

1. It’s Ramadan, Curious George

Like the other Curious George books in the series, It’s Ramadan, Curious George is a board book with tabs along one side which allow you to quickly locate the various symbols and activities associated with Ramadan. The story follows George and his excitement as he and his friend, Kareem, are preparing for Ramadan with Kareem’s family. Kareem is fasting during Ramadan for the first time and George helps when Kareem gets hungry by playing a game with him. A super-cute Ramadan children’s book suitable for the very youngest readers.

Suggested for ages: 2-5 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

2. Ramadan

I really love this little board book. The illustrations are gorgeous and the book does a great job of explaining the essential information about Ramadan for younger children. The book is a board book so I’ve recommended it for 2-5-year-olds but it’s also suitable for slightly older children as it explains the traditions in a factual but easy-to-understand way.

Suggested for ages: 2-5 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

3. My First Ramadan

Muslim parents have pointed out some errors in this book (the word ‘Islam’ does not means ‘peace’ in Arabic and the five daily prayers (Magharib) are not said but performed as a physical act) but I have included it because it’s still a lovely book which does a good job of explaining some of the traditions around Ramadan for kids in the 2-5 age group. The book follows a little boy as he observes Ramadan with his family and wishes everyone Eid Mubarak as the month draws to a close. The children I’ve shared this book with love the clear, simple illustrations. A worthwhile addition to a teacher or parent’s library of children’s books about Ramdan.

Suggested for ages: 2-5 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

4. Ramadan Moon

Ramadan Moon is a beautiful book with unique artwork which beautifully illustrates the Muslim culture and practices surrounding Ramadan. The book portrays a non-Arabic Muslim family observing Ramadan and the joy and thoughtfulness with which they practise the ancient traditions of their faith. The text in this book is gentle and lyrical and does a wonderful job of describing the emotions the children feel as the month flows by. This is a lovely addition to the collection of Ramadan books for kids.
Suggested for ages: 4-8 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

5. Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr is not a story as such but a collection of facts about Ramadan loosely tied as we follow Rashad as he experiences the holy month of Ramadan with his family. The illustrations are bright and cute and the children with whom I have shared this book have enjoyed it.

Suggested for ages: 5-8 years

6. Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan

Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan follows two siblings as they celebrate Ramadan with their family and friends. Fasting and the fact that it’s a choice and that children aren’t expected to fast (or can undertake a flexible, modified fast) is discussed. This book has less emphasis on the moon and on celebrating with family and friends but I really like the way it shows the children discuss Ramadan with their friends.

Suggested for ages: 2-6 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

7. The Gift of Ramadan

The Gift of Ramadan is a new-ish story which follows Sophia and her family as they celebrate Ramadan, with Sophia fasting for the first time. There is more detail in this book, as you might expect for a book aimed at slightly older children and it’s a great book to prompt discussion with the children you read it to. For example, Sophia’s mum wakes her very early on the first day or Ramadan so she can have breakfast before the sun rises and Sophia is very sleepy as she eats. Then the sun starts to rise and her dad says that the time for eating is over. As the family prays, Sophia falls asleep on her prayer rug. Later her tummy rumbles and she has to find things to distract herself from her hunger as she struggles with fasting. There’s an author’s note with more information about Ramadan at the end of the story.

Suggested for ages: 4-7 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

8. Lailah’s Lunchbox

Lailah has moved with her family from Abu Dhabi to the USA and misses her friends. She is excited about fasting during Ramadan for the first time and, on the first day of Ramadan, takes a note her mother has written to school to explain to her teacher why she has not brought her lunch to school. But Lailah is too embarrassed to give the note to her teacher so she hides the fact that she doesn’t have any lunch. This book is really lovely. It’s about Ramadan but it’s also about growing up and about coping with the changes that happen in our lives. I love the water-colour illustrations in the book and the map which shows where Lailah used to live and how far it is away from her new home. This is a great book to use in the classroom, as well as at home and is suitable for sharing with older children, as well as little ones.

As a former ESL teacher, this review on the Amazon website warmed my heart so I wanted to share it with you:

I’m an ESL teacher. I bought this book near the end of Ramadan and shared it with two 5th grade classrooms that I push into. The best part of this book is that my Muslim students could see themselves in the experiences the main character was having. These kids became the experts and were able to share their own experiences and answer classmates questions that came up as a result of this read aloud! This book is a great mirror for Muslim kids and a great window for their classmates.

Suggested for ages: 5-12 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

9. Night of the Moon

Night of the Moon is a beautiful tale about the sighting the Ramadan moon, the holy month of Ramadan and the festival of Eid. It follows Yasmeen, a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl, as she celebrates with her family and learns the ancient roots of their cherished traditions. At Yasmeen’s school, her class discusses Ramadan and Yasmeen enjoys answering her classmates’ questions. There are author’s notes and a helpful glossary at the end of the story. For me, it’s the illustrations which are the real star of this book. Lush and beautiful, their style evokes Islamic art and it’s really worth spending some time immersing yourself in them and talking with your children about them. Your children or students may like to experiment with some art of their own in the style of the book’s illustrations.

Suggested for ages: 5-10 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

10. Under the Ramadan Moon

Under the Ramadan Moon is written in simple, rhyming verse with lots of repetition so it’s lovely for younger children. Each double-page spread describes a different Ramadan tradition and the illustrations are gentle and muted but also bright and appealing.

We fast by day under the moon, under the moon, under the ramadan moon.

Suggested for ages: 4-8 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

11. Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is not actually a book about Ramadan but I’ve included it because it’s a lovely book about Muslim culture for younger children. It’s a simple book about colours and is written in rhyming verse:

Brown is a date, plump and sweet. During Ramadan, it’s my favourite treat.

Ramadan and Eid are both mentioned and there is a glossary at the end of the book.

Suggested for ages: 3-6 years

Booktopia | Amazon*

12. Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

Once Upon an Eid is a book of short stories for slightly older children which was released on 5 May 2020. Each story was written by a different contemporary Muslim author and the stories are all about the most joyful Muslim holiday of the year: Eid. This is a collection of really beautiful stories, each of which captures  the joyful feelings and memories Muslims associate with Eid. For some it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie. For others it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers. And for other people it might be the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration and for those keen to understand a bit more about Eid, this is a lovely book to savour. 

Suggested for ages: 8-12 years

Over to you

References

Islamic Relief Australia (2023). Ramadan Calendar 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024: https://islamicrelief.org.au/ramadan-calendar-2024/