Book Descriptions
for A Party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin-Uddin and Laura Jacobsen
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
After excitedly opening an invitation to a friend’s pony party, Leena is disappointed to find out that the event takes place during Ramadan. As a young Muslim, Leena won’t be fasting every day during the holy month, but she already planned to fast on the day of the party. Leena’s mother gives her the option of fasting on a different day, but Leena decides to fast AND go to the afternoon party. Leena initially enjoys herself there, but soon finds it hard to abstain from cake and lemonade, especially when she’s hungry and thirsty from playing outside. Questioning her choice, and wondering why God made fasting so hard, Leena falls asleep at the party. Later, Leena awakens at home, in time for the iftar (feast after the fast) dinner she had long awaited. Reflecting on the significance of Ramadan and her personal challenges, Leena feels proud of her choices in this readable and relevant book. (Ages 5–8)
CCBC Choices 2010. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2010. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Readers learn about the Islamic observance of Ramadan in this charming story of a young Muslim girl determined to do the right thing during her first Ramadan fast.
Ramadan is coming and Leena is excited. Although she is too young to fast every day during the Muslim religious festival, Leena decides to fast each Friday instead. When Leena receives an invitation to a party which happens to fall on Friday, she has a dilemma. She doesn't want to miss the party, but she doesn't want to miss fasting either. So Leena decides to go to the party, but not eat or drink anything at all. Later, she will join her family for the meal known as iftar, when the daily fast is broken. But when Leena, who is the only Muslim at the party, sees her friends enjoying fresh lemonade and chocolate cake, her stomach starts to growl and her head begins to hurt. Will she keep her Ramadan fast?
Author Asma Mobin-Uddin and illustrator Laura Jacobsen create a story that anyone can connect with while also teaching readers about Ramadan in this Parents' Choice Award book.
Booklist says: "The blend of the upbeat and challenging moments will spark discussion, and a final note fills in more about the holy month."
Ramadan is coming and Leena is excited. Although she is too young to fast every day during the Muslim religious festival, Leena decides to fast each Friday instead. When Leena receives an invitation to a party which happens to fall on Friday, she has a dilemma. She doesn't want to miss the party, but she doesn't want to miss fasting either. So Leena decides to go to the party, but not eat or drink anything at all. Later, she will join her family for the meal known as iftar, when the daily fast is broken. But when Leena, who is the only Muslim at the party, sees her friends enjoying fresh lemonade and chocolate cake, her stomach starts to growl and her head begins to hurt. Will she keep her Ramadan fast?
Author Asma Mobin-Uddin and illustrator Laura Jacobsen create a story that anyone can connect with while also teaching readers about Ramadan in this Parents' Choice Award book.
Booklist says: "The blend of the upbeat and challenging moments will spark discussion, and a final note fills in more about the holy month."
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
