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Once Upon an Eid
Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid!
Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift-giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.
The full list of Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.
Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift-giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.
The full list of Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2020
240 people are currently reading
12443 people want to read
About the author
S.K. Ali
13books2,780followersS. K. Ali writes the characters she never saw growing up into the stories she never saw growing up. Find her on instagram at , on twitter at , on TikTok at , and on her website at .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,186 reviews
March 12, 2020
full reviews finally posted
you guyssss!!
i cannot recommend this anthology enough!!! especially for my muslim friends, if you're able to, ABSOLUTELY read this during the end of ramadan/during the days of eid because it gave me the most wonderful, warm, happy, celebratory feelings
a few things i want to mention before diving into mini reviews for each story, these books are targeted towards a younger audience. they have more straight forward writing, morals, and lesson. to me, most of the stories felt to be at a middle grade level but that didn't hinder my enjoyment ONE BIT
these stories are compelling and personal and so special individually and all together
another thing, there is a page of illustrations introducing each story and i just LOVED that so much. in the ARC copy they weren't the final sketches (and most of them weren't finished) but from the ones i did see, they were absolutely beautiful and detailed and so creative i'm basically in love
okay ONTO THE MINI REVIEWS NOW
👨👩č� "Perfect" by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow 👨👩č�
- this was so cute
- it really showed the fun mess that is the family the night before eid
- the excitement of picking out fancy, festive clothes, laying them out, fighting with cousins etc. etc.
- there were a lot of references to Mandinka culture and i myself learned a lot, so that was really informative
- overall, very sweet with a great message though I do wish it could have been longer.
4 stars
🍫 "Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake" by Aisha Saeed 🍫
- This was a cute story about a boy who is trying to make the famous eid brownies for his family.......when something goes terribly wrong
- I liked the little brother and big sister dynamic the characters had, I’m always a sucker for siblings in books
- a sweet ending (ha, you see what i did there) but definitely felt too short
3 stars
🚲 "Kareem Means � Generous�" by Asmaa Hussein 🚲
- THIS WAS SO SWEET
- I absolutely LOVED the message of this story and how the conflict and resolution came about in a realistic way
- The way Kareem had to make the decision for himself and see the benefit of sharing and being generous with others
- it was really so sweet and moral without being too preachy about 'doing the right thing.' I would absolutely recommend as a story to read to younger kids
4.5 stars
🍩 "Don’ut Break Tradition" by S. K. Ali 🍩
- oh yeahhhh, love me some pain mixed with hope and happiness
- this literally tore up my heart!!!
- wow I really loved this one and the emotional journey it put me through
- The progression from sadness to happiness is something you, the reader, get to actually feel through the words, atmosphere, and the aura of the characters
- I loved getting to be a part of this sweet family eid tradition 🥺🥺
5 stars
🧕 "Just Like Chest Armor " by Candice Montgomery 🧕
- this is a story about an 11-year old Caribbean girl who is TOO EXCITED to finally be old enough to wear the hijab
- it’s such a sweet, sweet story that shows the happiness and excitement she feels to finally be moving through this rite of passage, a time that’s so monumental in her life, her parents hesitance to how the rest of her world will react to this change, and Leila finding her place and identity despite what everyone else thinks
- I think it’s such a deep, profound exploration (and much more realistic experience than most people would think) that many young girls go through
- and it shows some really tender, beautiful family moments
4 stars
🎁 "Gifts " by Rukhsana Khan 🎁
- I swear this story took me back to when I was a kid omg the flashbackssss
- It was nice to see the journey idrees experienced throughout the story
- For him to see the magnitude of Ramadan and the practical application of the patience required of him (in more aspects than one)
- was very wholesome, we loved it
4.5 stars
🍗 "The Feast of Sacrifice" by Hena Khan 🍗
- This was okay to me
- I felt like it could have expanded more on the characters growth. The characters and the lesson they learned felt kind of straight forward and one dimensional to me
- it was nice but i didn't feel like it stuck out from the other stories
3 stars
"Seraj Captures the Moon" by G. Willow Wilson & Sara Alfageeh
- THIS WAS SO COOL
- I loved the change in format, the drawings were adorable and the story was the adventurous plot we needed to break up to monotony of the stories
- I hope we get a longer story in the final bc I wanted to spend so much more time with Seraj and pickles
4 stars
🌃 "Searching for Blue" by N. H. Senzai 🌃
- The writing for this story was absolutely enchanting
- So far the best written from all the stories, it was detailed and emotional without being heavy handed
- I felt this one was directed for an older audience that the others (I’d say this feels more YA, while the others feel more middle grade)
- I appreciate the attention to detail and the build of the story, it definitely made me more attached to the characters and the little world we got to experience
- A sweet message as always and had an incredibly warm feeling of eid and celebration and a strong sense of community
4.5 stars
🧵 "Creative Fixes" by Ashley Franklin 🧵
- One thing I love about this anthology is the experiences from so many different cultures and identities
- Showing how the main character, a convert, celebrates her first eid and how her experience is so different from the other makes it so much more inclusive to different and unique muslim experiences
- It felt really special and i liked the journey we got to see witness
3.5 stars
🍲 "Taste" by Hanna Alkaf 🍲
- THIS RUINED ME!!!!!!!!!!!
- I’m sitting here like an absolute sobbing mess
- The writing, the prose, the storytelling, the emotion, it all built it to make me feel it all and feel for these small children who are trying to recreate a special eid meal during a tragic accident
- I LOVE IT SO MUCH im still in pain over this
5 stars, my absolute favourite from the anthology
🖼� "Eid Pictures" by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow 🖼�
- This was beautiful
- The parallels and imagery and writing it presented was so powerful
- The black muslim community often doesn't get heard as much as the other communities and in reality, they have so much history and power and culture to celebrate and share
- I just loved how short but poetic and impactful this poem was
- Really hit me in the feels
4.5 stars
🎈 "Not Only an Only" by Huda Al-Marashi 🎈
- I really like the friendship and feeling of community in this story
- Eid can be extremely sad and depressing if you don’t have people and family and community to celebrate your happiness with
- Showing that perspective was really eyeopening
- Also love me some of that arab rep
3.5 stars
🎇 "Maya Madinah Choose Joy" by Ayesha Mattu 🎇
- this short story revolves around a little girl having to come to terms with her parents separation, especially during the holidays
- she is very used to have Eid celebrations done a certain way and mentions the special ways they used to celebrate
- the way her aunt handled the situation was so well done. It showed the whole cycle of acceptance and making her feel that her emotions were valid but also that change happens to everyone
- I loved how they brought parallels from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life and were able to make those personal connections 🥺🥺🥺 that’s such a beautiful thing to teach kids
- we love to see it
4.5 stars
🚘 "Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha� Allah" by Randa Abdel-Fattah 🚘
- this was SO CUTE SO WHOLESOME SO SWEET SO FUNNY
- I might be partial to big, noisy families, especially when they are stuck together during long road trips and make it their sole purpose to annoy the hell out of each other
- the relatable content I signed up for
- this story made me feel so soft, idk I wish it was longer because I loved the dynamic the siblings had between each other and the happiness and kindness they shared
- it was also way funnier than I expected. Randa has a way of making me feel connected to her characters instantly and maybe it’s partially bc I saw myself in the main character but it just made me so incredibly nostalgic over the long, tiring road trips I shared with my noisy family as a kid
5 stars
AND THERE WE HAVE IT FRIENDS, i truly deeply loved reading this anthology and i might just have to pick up the final copy and give it a reread in the coming months
i hope i've convinced you to pick it up bc you definitely need some wholesome goodness in your life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this was one of my MOST anticipated books for the year and i JUST got approved for an arc copy 😭😭😭 Thank you SO MUCH to Netgalley & the publishers, i can't wait to read it as soon as i stop crying :")
you guyssss!!
i cannot recommend this anthology enough!!! especially for my muslim friends, if you're able to, ABSOLUTELY read this during the end of ramadan/during the days of eid because it gave me the most wonderful, warm, happy, celebratory feelings
a few things i want to mention before diving into mini reviews for each story, these books are targeted towards a younger audience. they have more straight forward writing, morals, and lesson. to me, most of the stories felt to be at a middle grade level but that didn't hinder my enjoyment ONE BIT
these stories are compelling and personal and so special individually and all together
another thing, there is a page of illustrations introducing each story and i just LOVED that so much. in the ARC copy they weren't the final sketches (and most of them weren't finished) but from the ones i did see, they were absolutely beautiful and detailed and so creative i'm basically in love
okay ONTO THE MINI REVIEWS NOW
👨👩č� "Perfect" by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow 👨👩č�
- this was so cute
- it really showed the fun mess that is the family the night before eid
- the excitement of picking out fancy, festive clothes, laying them out, fighting with cousins etc. etc.
- there were a lot of references to Mandinka culture and i myself learned a lot, so that was really informative
- overall, very sweet with a great message though I do wish it could have been longer.
4 stars
🍫 "Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake" by Aisha Saeed 🍫
- This was a cute story about a boy who is trying to make the famous eid brownies for his family.......when something goes terribly wrong
- I liked the little brother and big sister dynamic the characters had, I’m always a sucker for siblings in books
- a sweet ending (ha, you see what i did there) but definitely felt too short
3 stars
🚲 "Kareem Means � Generous�" by Asmaa Hussein 🚲
- THIS WAS SO SWEET
- I absolutely LOVED the message of this story and how the conflict and resolution came about in a realistic way
- The way Kareem had to make the decision for himself and see the benefit of sharing and being generous with others
- it was really so sweet and moral without being too preachy about 'doing the right thing.' I would absolutely recommend as a story to read to younger kids
4.5 stars
🍩 "Don’ut Break Tradition" by S. K. Ali 🍩
- oh yeahhhh, love me some pain mixed with hope and happiness
- this literally tore up my heart!!!
- wow I really loved this one and the emotional journey it put me through
- The progression from sadness to happiness is something you, the reader, get to actually feel through the words, atmosphere, and the aura of the characters
- I loved getting to be a part of this sweet family eid tradition 🥺🥺
5 stars
🧕 "Just Like Chest Armor " by Candice Montgomery 🧕
- this is a story about an 11-year old Caribbean girl who is TOO EXCITED to finally be old enough to wear the hijab
- it’s such a sweet, sweet story that shows the happiness and excitement she feels to finally be moving through this rite of passage, a time that’s so monumental in her life, her parents hesitance to how the rest of her world will react to this change, and Leila finding her place and identity despite what everyone else thinks
- I think it’s such a deep, profound exploration (and much more realistic experience than most people would think) that many young girls go through
- and it shows some really tender, beautiful family moments
4 stars
🎁 "Gifts " by Rukhsana Khan 🎁
- I swear this story took me back to when I was a kid omg the flashbackssss
- It was nice to see the journey idrees experienced throughout the story
- For him to see the magnitude of Ramadan and the practical application of the patience required of him (in more aspects than one)
- was very wholesome, we loved it
4.5 stars
🍗 "The Feast of Sacrifice" by Hena Khan 🍗
- This was okay to me
- I felt like it could have expanded more on the characters growth. The characters and the lesson they learned felt kind of straight forward and one dimensional to me
- it was nice but i didn't feel like it stuck out from the other stories
3 stars
"Seraj Captures the Moon" by G. Willow Wilson & Sara Alfageeh
- THIS WAS SO COOL
- I loved the change in format, the drawings were adorable and the story was the adventurous plot we needed to break up to monotony of the stories
- I hope we get a longer story in the final bc I wanted to spend so much more time with Seraj and pickles
4 stars
🌃 "Searching for Blue" by N. H. Senzai 🌃
- The writing for this story was absolutely enchanting
- So far the best written from all the stories, it was detailed and emotional without being heavy handed
- I felt this one was directed for an older audience that the others (I’d say this feels more YA, while the others feel more middle grade)
- I appreciate the attention to detail and the build of the story, it definitely made me more attached to the characters and the little world we got to experience
- A sweet message as always and had an incredibly warm feeling of eid and celebration and a strong sense of community
4.5 stars
🧵 "Creative Fixes" by Ashley Franklin 🧵
- One thing I love about this anthology is the experiences from so many different cultures and identities
- Showing how the main character, a convert, celebrates her first eid and how her experience is so different from the other makes it so much more inclusive to different and unique muslim experiences
- It felt really special and i liked the journey we got to see witness
3.5 stars
🍲 "Taste" by Hanna Alkaf 🍲
- THIS RUINED ME!!!!!!!!!!!
- I’m sitting here like an absolute sobbing mess
- The writing, the prose, the storytelling, the emotion, it all built it to make me feel it all and feel for these small children who are trying to recreate a special eid meal during a tragic accident
- I LOVE IT SO MUCH im still in pain over this
5 stars, my absolute favourite from the anthology
🖼� "Eid Pictures" by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow 🖼�
- This was beautiful
- The parallels and imagery and writing it presented was so powerful
- The black muslim community often doesn't get heard as much as the other communities and in reality, they have so much history and power and culture to celebrate and share
- I just loved how short but poetic and impactful this poem was
- Really hit me in the feels
4.5 stars
🎈 "Not Only an Only" by Huda Al-Marashi 🎈
- I really like the friendship and feeling of community in this story
- Eid can be extremely sad and depressing if you don’t have people and family and community to celebrate your happiness with
- Showing that perspective was really eyeopening
- Also love me some of that arab rep
3.5 stars
🎇 "Maya Madinah Choose Joy" by Ayesha Mattu 🎇
- this short story revolves around a little girl having to come to terms with her parents separation, especially during the holidays
- she is very used to have Eid celebrations done a certain way and mentions the special ways they used to celebrate
- the way her aunt handled the situation was so well done. It showed the whole cycle of acceptance and making her feel that her emotions were valid but also that change happens to everyone
- I loved how they brought parallels from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life and were able to make those personal connections 🥺🥺🥺 that’s such a beautiful thing to teach kids
- we love to see it
4.5 stars
🚘 "Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha� Allah" by Randa Abdel-Fattah 🚘
- this was SO CUTE SO WHOLESOME SO SWEET SO FUNNY
- I might be partial to big, noisy families, especially when they are stuck together during long road trips and make it their sole purpose to annoy the hell out of each other
- the relatable content I signed up for
- this story made me feel so soft, idk I wish it was longer because I loved the dynamic the siblings had between each other and the happiness and kindness they shared
- it was also way funnier than I expected. Randa has a way of making me feel connected to her characters instantly and maybe it’s partially bc I saw myself in the main character but it just made me so incredibly nostalgic over the long, tiring road trips I shared with my noisy family as a kid
5 stars
AND THERE WE HAVE IT FRIENDS, i truly deeply loved reading this anthology and i might just have to pick up the final copy and give it a reread in the coming months
i hope i've convinced you to pick it up bc you definitely need some wholesome goodness in your life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this was one of my MOST anticipated books for the year and i JUST got approved for an arc copy 😭😭😭 Thank you SO MUCH to Netgalley & the publishers, i can't wait to read it as soon as i stop crying :")
November 25, 2020
I wish I had this EXACT BOOK when I was a kid.
This is a perfect delight of a middle grade book filled with short stories about celebrations of Eid, and let me tell you, as a child who was admittedly growing up in a super homogenous (read: white) community, this would have made a world of difference.
In conclusion: I am so glad that children have this and that adult me has it too!!
------------
pre-review
goodreads rules because you can say, in passing in a review, "i want to read to more books with Muslim characters," and you get like 8 excellent recommendations in the comments.
(thanks to On the Same Page for this one!)
This is a perfect delight of a middle grade book filled with short stories about celebrations of Eid, and let me tell you, as a child who was admittedly growing up in a super homogenous (read: white) community, this would have made a world of difference.
In conclusion: I am so glad that children have this and that adult me has it too!!
------------
pre-review
goodreads rules because you can say, in passing in a review, "i want to read to more books with Muslim characters," and you get like 8 excellent recommendations in the comments.
(thanks to On the Same Page for this one!)
May 28, 2020
Rtc
___
it's been years since I've read a middle grade. But since it's a week till Eid (!!!) I think this will be a perfect read to get me into the celebratory feels!!
Y'all this better have the Muslim rep I need. I cant handle another book misrepresenting us
___
it's been years since I've read a middle grade. But since it's a week till Eid (!!!) I think this will be a perfect read to get me into the celebratory feels!!
Y'all this better have the Muslim rep I need. I cant handle another book misrepresenting us
June 3, 2020
I used to wonder how Eid feels like in other countries. This anthology is perfect to read if you are wondering the same. It has all the wonderful stories about Eid and all of them end on a happy note of joy and celebration.�
.�
.�
The best thing I found about this anthology is that not all Muslim characters were portrayed so unrealistically good or perfect. They had flaws which they realized in the stories. And I feel them close to the reality too.�
.�
.�
All of the authors in this anthology were new to me. I’m pretty glad to have found them.�
.�
All of the stories are good but few really deserve to be mentioned and I gave them 5 stars:�
3. Kareem Means “Generous� by Asmaa Hussein �
4. Don’ut Break Tradition by S.K Ali �
9. Searching For Blue by N. H. Senzai [𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘷]�
10. Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin �
14. Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu
�.
I hope from below quotes, you’ll be tempted to read the anthology. ^_^�
.
.
This was a buddy read with Rida Imran and Saba. It was fun! � Thanks for inviting, Rida!✨
.
.�
Do check out Rida's review. She has done better than me: /review/show...
𝐅𝐚𝐯 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:�
“The things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself.� � Kareem Means “Generous”
.�
“Anytime you share something you love, it comes right back to you like a boomerang. You never lose it. Just wait and see.� -- Kareem Means “Generous”
.�
“Special days start when you run toward them.� -- Don’ut Break Tradition�
.�
“It’s never about the gift. It’s about the love behind it.”—Gifts�
.�
“Always look beyond what your eyes initially recognize and find out what is real, what is possible, and what is the truth.”—Searching for Blue�
.�
“It’s hard to see the beauty in things when you can’t see past your insecurities.� � Creative Fixes�
.�
“Sometimes things just happen, and we have to accept them and move on. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.� � Taste�
.�
“Sometimes, before we can welcome joy in again, we need to acknowledge the sadness in our hearts”� Maya Madinah Chooses Joy
.�
.�
The best thing I found about this anthology is that not all Muslim characters were portrayed so unrealistically good or perfect. They had flaws which they realized in the stories. And I feel them close to the reality too.�
.�
.�
All of the authors in this anthology were new to me. I’m pretty glad to have found them.�
.�
All of the stories are good but few really deserve to be mentioned and I gave them 5 stars:�
3. Kareem Means “Generous� by Asmaa Hussein �
4. Don’ut Break Tradition by S.K Ali �
9. Searching For Blue by N. H. Senzai [𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘷]�
10. Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin �
14. Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu
�.
I hope from below quotes, you’ll be tempted to read the anthology. ^_^�
.
.
This was a buddy read with Rida Imran and Saba. It was fun! � Thanks for inviting, Rida!✨
.
.�
Do check out Rida's review. She has done better than me: /review/show...
𝐅𝐚𝐯 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:�
“The things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself.� � Kareem Means “Generous”
.�
“Anytime you share something you love, it comes right back to you like a boomerang. You never lose it. Just wait and see.� -- Kareem Means “Generous”
.�
“Special days start when you run toward them.� -- Don’ut Break Tradition�
.�
“It’s never about the gift. It’s about the love behind it.”—Gifts�
.�
“Always look beyond what your eyes initially recognize and find out what is real, what is possible, and what is the truth.”—Searching for Blue�
.�
“It’s hard to see the beauty in things when you can’t see past your insecurities.� � Creative Fixes�
.�
“Sometimes things just happen, and we have to accept them and move on. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.� � Taste�
.�
“Sometimes, before we can welcome joy in again, we need to acknowledge the sadness in our hearts”� Maya Madinah Chooses Joy
March 14, 2020
Flawless
March 31, 2025
In a Nutshell: A fabulous OwnVoices middle-grade anthology with all stories connected to Eid in some way or the other. Excellent plots and characters and diversity. I loved how much it surprised me and taught me. Much, much recommended!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a reading challenge I am participating in, I needed a book set around any festival. I knew for sure that I would not take a book connected to Christmas � I have already read plenty of them and I am tired of seeing Christmas books be more about parties and Santa and gifts than about prayer and church and community. So when I found this anthology, its beautiful cover, the classic “Once Upon A…� in a title and the joyous tagline won my heart. The content proved to be even better.
This collection of fifteen stories is OwnVoices in every way. Each contributing author, including the editors and the illustrator, is a practising Muslim, coming from a variety of ethnic and geographical backgrounds � USA, Australia, Jordan, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Mandinka, and more. This results in an intricate tapestry of stories that shows the wealth and diversity of Islamic cultures across the globe. (My heart did a little dance of joy when I saw that the two editors � S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed � are of Indian and Pakistani origin respectively. I love seeing a harmonious connection between our two nations.)
The introductory note by the editors is so informative! (I had no idea that there were Muslim communities in China and Argentina! Sadly, no authors/stories from these locations were a part of the book.) The editors rightly point out, "The customs, diverse cultural markers, and family traditions are “insider experiences� seen only within our own communities." It made me realise that I barely know anything about how Eid is celebrated, beyond the basic facts.
This book is a great way of getting an insider look at Eid preparations and celebrations. However, the stories aren’t just about the commercial aspects of the festivities such as food or clothes or gifts, though these also get their rightful place. There is so much about actual Eid herein � the meaning of the festival, the rituals associated with it, the two types of Eid, the need for and requirements of fasting during Ramadan. I appreciate how the content offered a complete look at all aspects of the festival � religious as well as celebratory. Writers of Christmas books ought to take a page from this approach.
The stories are aimed at middle-graders, and hence the main protagonist in each of the tales is of middle-grade age. Combine this with the fact that the book is set around a festival, and I expected the stories to be easy-going, happy tales full of celebrations. But many of the stories cover tougher events as well. Parental illness, refugee issues, death, financial troubles, divorce, accidents � these aren’t ordinary topics for a festive anthology. But as the tagline reminds us, the book contains “stories of hope and joy�. Even these sadder tales end on a note of hope, as they rightly should considering the age of the target audience.
I love how the stories don't compromise on the vocabulary. There's no "dumbing down" of words just to cater to the middle-grade crowd. However, with many Eid-related Arabic words such as ‘fajr� and ‘suhoor�, there should have been a glossary at the end particularly for such terms.
Of the fifteen stories, two are written in verse and one is in comic format. The comic was next to impossible to read on the Kindle as the font was too small and the graphics couldn’t be zoomed into. Kindle for Web came to my rescue this once.
Every story comes with one full-page B&W illustration just before it begins. These graphics are excellent, capturing the main mood of the story perfectly. Kudos to the illustrator!
The book ends with a delicious acknowledgements section that is full of mentions of Eid delicacies (Loved this idea!), followed by the contributor bios. (I wish these bios had been placed immediately after the story instead of at the end.)
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the fifteen stories, six stories reached/crossed the 4-star mark. A majority of the remaining tales were clustered around 3-3.5 stars, with only two stories slipping below 3 stars. A highly satisfying performance! These were my top favourites:
All in all, I am glad this book entered my life. It taught me much about Eid, as well as offered me insights into several cultures. Though meant for middle-graders, this book can also work for teens.
Much recommended to readers who would love a culturally inclusive and accurate OwnVoices anthology full of Eid hope and joy.
3.7 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story.
This was a library read.
Eid Mubarak to all those who celebrate it today! �
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
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For a reading challenge I am participating in, I needed a book set around any festival. I knew for sure that I would not take a book connected to Christmas � I have already read plenty of them and I am tired of seeing Christmas books be more about parties and Santa and gifts than about prayer and church and community. So when I found this anthology, its beautiful cover, the classic “Once Upon A…� in a title and the joyous tagline won my heart. The content proved to be even better.
This collection of fifteen stories is OwnVoices in every way. Each contributing author, including the editors and the illustrator, is a practising Muslim, coming from a variety of ethnic and geographical backgrounds � USA, Australia, Jordan, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Mandinka, and more. This results in an intricate tapestry of stories that shows the wealth and diversity of Islamic cultures across the globe. (My heart did a little dance of joy when I saw that the two editors � S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed � are of Indian and Pakistani origin respectively. I love seeing a harmonious connection between our two nations.)
The introductory note by the editors is so informative! (I had no idea that there were Muslim communities in China and Argentina! Sadly, no authors/stories from these locations were a part of the book.) The editors rightly point out, "The customs, diverse cultural markers, and family traditions are “insider experiences� seen only within our own communities." It made me realise that I barely know anything about how Eid is celebrated, beyond the basic facts.
This book is a great way of getting an insider look at Eid preparations and celebrations. However, the stories aren’t just about the commercial aspects of the festivities such as food or clothes or gifts, though these also get their rightful place. There is so much about actual Eid herein � the meaning of the festival, the rituals associated with it, the two types of Eid, the need for and requirements of fasting during Ramadan. I appreciate how the content offered a complete look at all aspects of the festival � religious as well as celebratory. Writers of Christmas books ought to take a page from this approach.
The stories are aimed at middle-graders, and hence the main protagonist in each of the tales is of middle-grade age. Combine this with the fact that the book is set around a festival, and I expected the stories to be easy-going, happy tales full of celebrations. But many of the stories cover tougher events as well. Parental illness, refugee issues, death, financial troubles, divorce, accidents � these aren’t ordinary topics for a festive anthology. But as the tagline reminds us, the book contains “stories of hope and joy�. Even these sadder tales end on a note of hope, as they rightly should considering the age of the target audience.
I love how the stories don't compromise on the vocabulary. There's no "dumbing down" of words just to cater to the middle-grade crowd. However, with many Eid-related Arabic words such as ‘fajr� and ‘suhoor�, there should have been a glossary at the end particularly for such terms.
Of the fifteen stories, two are written in verse and one is in comic format. The comic was next to impossible to read on the Kindle as the font was too small and the graphics couldn’t be zoomed into. Kindle for Web came to my rescue this once.
Every story comes with one full-page B&W illustration just before it begins. These graphics are excellent, capturing the main mood of the story perfectly. Kudos to the illustrator!
The book ends with a delicious acknowledgements section that is full of mentions of Eid delicacies (Loved this idea!), followed by the contributor bios. (I wish these bios had been placed immediately after the story instead of at the end.)
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the fifteen stories, six stories reached/crossed the 4-star mark. A majority of the remaining tales were clustered around 3-3.5 stars, with only two stories slipping below 3 stars. A highly satisfying performance! These were my top favourites:
🌛 Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake - Aisha Saeed: We already know that this story involves a Great Big Brownie Mistake. What makes it special is how the mistake is tackled. A beautiful story of sibling love combined with festive joy. Plus points for showing a young boy interested in baking and not one character has any gender-derogatory remark about it. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌛 Kareem Means “Generous� - Asmaa Hussein: A lovely story about kindness and generosity. A bit too straightforward and sunshiney for cynical old me, but a great story for the right age group. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌛 Just Like Chest Armor - Candice Montgomery: A beautiful story about a girl who's all excited about getting to wear the hijab for the first time and doesn't understand why her mother is reluctant. While this story could have covered far more themes if written for older readers, its current content is perfect for middle graders. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌛 Taste - Hanna Alkaf: A teen girl learns to make something special in the kitchen when her mother isn't around. Written in verse, so a bit of a challenge for me. Was 3.5 stars for the most way, but the ending won my heart. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌛 Not Only an Only - Huda Al-Marashi: Brilliant in every way � title, plot, characters, themes, insights, and ending. There's so much joy and hope and inclusiveness in this little tale. I'd love to read more by this Iraqi author! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
🌛 Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha’Allah - Randa Abdel-Fattah: The title lets you expect a fun story, and the content delivers on that promise perfectly. Loved this little tale of family chaos going on a road trip while fasting. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
All in all, I am glad this book entered my life. It taught me much about Eid, as well as offered me insights into several cultures. Though meant for middle-graders, this book can also work for teens.
Much recommended to readers who would love a culturally inclusive and accurate OwnVoices anthology full of Eid hope and joy.
3.7 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story.
This was a library read.
Eid Mubarak to all those who celebrate it today! �
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
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January 19, 2020
*ARC review.
Masha'Allah, this was was the cutest and purest thing I've read. I love the diversity of cultures, backgrounds, experinces that were represented in here. I especially love that their was a story about a Shia Mulsim girl. This is the kind of story that Muslim kids deserve in 2020 and I'm so happy it exists. I'll do a fuller review a bit later, but for now, please pre-order this book.
Masha'Allah, this was was the cutest and purest thing I've read. I love the diversity of cultures, backgrounds, experinces that were represented in here. I especially love that their was a story about a Shia Mulsim girl. This is the kind of story that Muslim kids deserve in 2020 and I'm so happy it exists. I'll do a fuller review a bit later, but for now, please pre-order this book.
Read
May 25, 2020WE DID IT FOLKS! I finally found an anthology I love from start to finish 😭
I read this in one day on Eid and that was the most perfect thing I could have done. Every single story is so different but ultimately they all surround Eid, and the spirit and vibe of Eid is so present in each one of them no matter what type of story it is or the themes it explored. Each story surrounds a specific theme that pertains to the celebration (joy, gratefulness, community, hope, generosity, etc...) and I really loved that about them. I also loved the fact that the scope of stories and communities it explores is very wide, because eventhough we're all Muslim, our experiences can be very different. There are stories about Asian, Black, Middle Eastern Muslims, Sunni and Shia Muslim and not only that, but not all the stories are happy. Some are sad and hard but ultimately every single one of them ended with a hopeful note and left and smile on my face.
I just loved how this anthology showed how differently we all celebrate and experience Eid, and it's not a happy time for everyone because of what they might be going through at the time. This was just. SO. GOOD.
My favorite stories were by S.K. Ali about a little girl whose mom is sick but she's trying her best to keep the family Eid traditions and joy alive, Candice Mongomery which is about a girl who loved the Hijab and is set on starting to wear it on Eid and lastly N.H. Senzai's which is about a Syrian refugee in Greece celebrating in whatever means he can with his refugee community. But they were all so so good.
I read this in one day on Eid and that was the most perfect thing I could have done. Every single story is so different but ultimately they all surround Eid, and the spirit and vibe of Eid is so present in each one of them no matter what type of story it is or the themes it explored. Each story surrounds a specific theme that pertains to the celebration (joy, gratefulness, community, hope, generosity, etc...) and I really loved that about them. I also loved the fact that the scope of stories and communities it explores is very wide, because eventhough we're all Muslim, our experiences can be very different. There are stories about Asian, Black, Middle Eastern Muslims, Sunni and Shia Muslim and not only that, but not all the stories are happy. Some are sad and hard but ultimately every single one of them ended with a hopeful note and left and smile on my face.
I just loved how this anthology showed how differently we all celebrate and experience Eid, and it's not a happy time for everyone because of what they might be going through at the time. This was just. SO. GOOD.
My favorite stories were by S.K. Ali about a little girl whose mom is sick but she's trying her best to keep the family Eid traditions and joy alive, Candice Mongomery which is about a girl who loved the Hijab and is set on starting to wear it on Eid and lastly N.H. Senzai's which is about a Syrian refugee in Greece celebrating in whatever means he can with his refugee community. But they were all so so good.
August 26, 2021
~ 4 stars ~
This was such an adorable read! I highly recommend to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
This is a compilation of different stories about Eid, which are the two major holidays in Islam. It tells stories of different cultures, traditions, and memories in such a cute way. And it's super diverse, which I appreciated.
Overall, there is not much that I have to say about it. It's a lighthearted and positive read, and I'm really glad to have picked this up.
This was such an adorable read! I highly recommend to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
This is a compilation of different stories about Eid, which are the two major holidays in Islam. It tells stories of different cultures, traditions, and memories in such a cute way. And it's super diverse, which I appreciated.
Overall, there is not much that I have to say about it. It's a lighthearted and positive read, and I'm really glad to have picked this up.
April 24, 2022
I COULDN’T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER EIDI! � �
It's Chaad Raat in my country right now as I post this review. I'm a little early but, EID MUBARAK TO EVERYONE WHO CELEBRATES!
It's Chaad Raat in my country right now as I post this review. I'm a little early but, EID MUBARAK TO EVERYONE WHO CELEBRATES!
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Abrams Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Perfect by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow - ★★★★�
Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed - ★★★★�
Kareem Means "Generous" by Asmaa Hussein - ★★★☆�
Don'ut Break Tradition by S.K. Ali - ★★★★�
Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery - ★★★★.5
Gifts by Rukhsana Khan - ★★.5☆☆
The Feast of Sacrifice by Hena Khan - ★★★☆�
Seraj Captures the Moon by G. Willow Wilson & Sara Alfageeh - ★★★★�
Searching for Blue by N.H. Senzai - ★★★★�
Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin - ★★★☆�
Taste by Hanna Alfak - ★★☆☆�
Eid Pictures - Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow - ★★☆☆�
Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi - ★★�.5�
Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu - ★★★★�
Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha' Allah by Randa Abdel-Fattah - ★★★★.5
This was so much fun to read. Filled with pure joy and yummy food, this book will definitely be enjoyed by many readers old an young.
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i'm not too familiar with Muslim culture so i am very grateful to Abrams Books for sending me this so i can learn more!
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August 1, 2020
Eid Mubarak everyone!
___
Highly recommend to everyone. It's time to diversify what you read and learn about other experiences. There's a lot of misconceptions and Islamophobia out there educate yourself
____
I'm a 23 year old Muslim. When I was growing up there were no mainstream books with Muslim characters except for maybe The Kite Runner but that was a refugee story. I'm not saying that's not important; it was and I love that book. But the Muslims you see regularly like us did not have characters experiences to relate too.
And it's not just us Muslims; it's most of us POC and non christians. Growing up our children's books were filled with white characters. All illustrations were white. Books movies everything is about Christmas; we don't see other cultures or religions and it's not fair. Colouring in school we were told to use peaches and pinks for the skin no matter what colour was our skin. Reflecting on it I thought maybe it had something to do with the fact that my early school years were in a white majority place ( does not excuse it though there were a lot of black, brown kids in my class and a few east Asians and none of us were peach). But my sister is now 6 and we live where in a place where all of us are brown; and one day when we're sitting colouring she tells me that her teacher told her to colour face as peach. I was so annoyed and then I told her I don't know anyone that's peach. We then looked at pictures of people and illustrations over the internet and ended up using brown shades of brown with light browns and dark browns and all beautiful. I'm so glad my sister has a few books which have characters of colour illustrations and even one with a visibly Muslim - hijabi in them. Because let's be honest I'm so done with peach.
So you can tell how excited I must've been when I saw on social media S. K Ali and Aisha Saeed announce that their bringing an anthology of Eid related short stories in collaboration with other amazing writers.
I buddy read during Eid (perfect time) this with amazing GR friends Ahmed Ejaz and
Sabat.
This heart warming Muslim collection is filled with diverse stories representing different Muslim cultures; and a convert story; and being from a divorced family; and a refugee story and even being a minority within Muslims. Because there is no one typical Muslim Eid story it's different for all us but at the heart it's about the same thing coming together of a community. I wish these stories had been around when I younger but I'm happy they finally are.
1. Perfect by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow: ✰✰�
Overall fun story about African culture. Favourite scene was when Fanta's mom orders her through her eyes. Like that was so relatable whenever we're in public or out moms are scolding us and ordering us through their eyes 😂
Also the characters feeling embarrassed for not being in touch with their culture or to western world felt very real. The fights and etc made them feel like children which they were.
I love how through reading we explore other cultures. It's such a beautiful welcoming feeling!
2. Yusuf and The Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed: ✰✰�
Cute story reminded me of our own Eid traditions. But I really think it could've been shorter and been a children's picture book instead. I know Aisha Saeed has one Bilal makes Daal I think I'd like to read them to my younger sister if I ever find them. Most pictute books just have white people 😂
This was also the first time I read anything by Aisha Saeed; her books have been on my tbr for so long.
3. Kareem Means “Generous� by Asmaa Hussein: ✰✰✰✰�
the things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself.
Loved it.
I think what most non Muslims don't realise is how big of a part generosity and kindness plays in our religion (i think most religions).
I loved how realistic this story was. Children don't always want to share and care since birth but you can teach them.
This is especially a great message during these times when so many people are out of work. If one can help out by donating do as much as one can.
4. Don’ut Break Tradition by S.K Ali: ✰✰✰✰�
what makes a special day special?
This story was so beautifully written. It was simultaneously heart aching and heart warming. And i simultaneously hated and loved the mysterious vibes like they were coop but I thought her brother had died then thought their father had left them. My brain needs to stop jumping to conclusions that fast man.
It was also relatable. Eid used to be so special when we lived in a joint family; I used to be young and us kids would have so much fun. Then we moved to a different country with them and for one year it wasn't so cool. Then our grandparents moved here too and bought some special element with. And now they've passed away too. I don't have much family that lives here. So we pretty much just have a normal day but dress up for a few hours.
But I loved how children make Eid special. My sister is just 6 but since she was born we try to put in a little Eid effort take pictures etc.
Nadia was obviously older. But children overall are such a ray of sunshine.
I loved the idea of a whole community coming together too.
And also that scene where she's worried that her dad might not be able to afford the Eidi he gave; it's so emotional.
5. Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery : ✰✰✰✰
Personally I think it's pretty accurate depiction of choosing to wear a Hijab in this world (but I do not wear one so I'm not the best judge). Being warned about how others would make you feel doesn't make it better when it does happen.
But I honestly how normal this thing is. Racism sucks and also kills
#BlackLivesMatter it starts with subtle things like this being mean to muslims and black kids and one day you're a cop killing innocent black people. I cannot imagine what it feels like to be black in America; it's hell and no black parents should have to give their children the talk about this.. And can you believe how many atrocities the police must've committed that were not caught on camera. And these officers were just fired..that is not justice. George Flyod; Ahmed Aubrey were killed cause of white supremacy. #ICannotBreathe.
6. Gifts by Rukhsana Khan: ✰✰
Not sure why but mostly I found this one a bit boring. Don't get me wrong it's a nice story about learning and growing to like Ramadan. Nothing wrong with it though just we didn't vibe i guess. I did however like how it doesn't say fasting is to learn how poor people feel; it's to learn self restraint.
7. The Feast of Sacrifice by Hena Khan: ✰✰�
I sit down on a bench and look around at the crowd, watching the mix of people, old and young, rich and not, speaking different languages and wearing their nicest clothes. There’s a blend of colorful African prints, sparkling saris, leather kufis, and embroidered shalwar kameezes like mine. Everyone has happiness on their faces and is here for the same reason—to gather and feast and worship. It occurs to me that this is probably similar to what Mama described Hajj to be like, on a smaller scale. I hope I can make the pilgrimage one day too.
The beautiful diverse Islamic community coming together 🧡 I too hope that we can make the pilgrimage one day. This one is different; while most of the stories are about Eid ul Fitr (the one after Ramadan) this one is about the one I think is lesser known Eid ul Adha and Hajj. The sibling fights are so realistic. The growing relation with their grandparents is so pure. Really liked this one.
8. Seraj Captures the Moon by G. Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh: ✰✰✰✰�
I don't if she illustrated the whole book or just this story but this story and this whole book in fact as beautiful pictures. Loved this cute short adventurous graphic story. This reminds me of how confused we were about the moon this year so many people had finished their taraveeh prayers..I was 6/20 done when I learnt that it's Eid and I don't have to pray. Loved the donkey. I know Sven from Frozen isn't a donkey but that Kristoff's Sven's voice was this donkey's voice in my head. I'm gonna read this one to my little sister!
9. Searching for Blue by N. H. Senzai: ✰✰✰✰�
“always look beyond what your eyes initially recognize and find out what is real, what is possible, and what is the truth.�
Sometimes when I read or watch something absolutely beautiful I am at a loss of words. One of my favourite books of all time is Long Way Down my review from what I remember is just "this was Absolutely Beautiful". And this is what happened here I don't know what to say. While all the other stories are of Alhumdulilah (Thanks to God) about privileged families which some of us can relate to. But that's not what Eid is for everyone or any other celebratory occasion such as Christmas. This is the story of refugees. During these quarantine days I saw many people posting about now do we realise how it feels to be locked down in Yemen/Syria/Palestine/Kashmir but no we don't know; we can't know. We are safe in our homes not afraid that a bomb might blast us away any moment it is nothing alike. Everyone should read this story.
By the way if anyone ever asks what Ramadan is:
holy month of Ramadan, when you abstained, from dawn to dusk, not only from food and drink but also from negative thoughts and actions. It was a time of reflection, personal improvement, and increased devotion to God. It was also a month of charity
I think all 3 of us found this story to be our favourite.
10. Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin: ✰✰✰✰
How are all these stories so beautiful. This one is about a convert family who aren't so well financially. It's about family. And how friendships can be when you feel insecure about yourself financially. Her mom's character was so beautiful 💙
“It’s hard to see the beauty in things when you can’t see past your insecurities.�
11. Taste by Hanna Alkaf: ✰✰
This was a story in verse about a girl whose mom is in the hospital. It was heartbreaking but for some reason I didn't connect to it.
12. Eid Pictures by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: ✰✰✰✰
This was also in verse. This was beautiful.
13. Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi: ✰✰✰✰
Okay so Iraqi biryani is different from ours. I wonder how it is. On a serious note though; this was beautiful. Our main character is Shia in this one which is a minority Muslim sect; shia communities such as the Hazaras have often faced oppression (have you read the acclaimed The Kite Runner). This was a heartwarming story of coming together, looking at our similarities instead of differences and of new friendships.
14. Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu: ✰✰✰✰�
Joy and sorrow follow each other endlessly like moon phases, Maya Madinah. There are times of shining fullness and times of emptying out. Sometimes, before we can welcome joy in again, we need to acknowledge the sadness in our hearts
Oh this was just wonderful and heartwarming (seems like I'm saying that about all of them). Maya Madinah is torn because her parents have divorced and she wants to run away. She goes to her Aunt's. This has that magical childhood feeling when you just can't wait to grow up cause you think then everything will be according to your rules. Her aunt is such a beautiful character; paying attention to everything she is saying treating her like an actual person; instead of dismissing what a child is saying..because that is what so many do and not give children's thoughts the release they need. I also loved how her aunt used a religious story to teach her to choose joy; I've never heard of it in such a personal context. And of course this:
“Families can look a lot of different ways, Maya Madinah. And each of them is beautiful. We each have a biological family, the one we’re born into. You have your parents and relatives. And we each have a chosen family, which might include people we are related to and those we aren’t.
Such a beautiful way to put it. Also how calm we call kids of divorced parents as kids from broken homes. We should probably stop with that and teach these kids like this lit Aunt here and we need more empathetic language.
15. Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha’Allah by Randa Abdel-Fattah: ✰✰✰✰
This anthology ends on a great note. This story was about a family's road trip a day before Eid. It was fun! Also I was a lot like Noor!
Overall: � � � � �
Highly recommended to both Muslim and Non Muslim Readers!
And a big thank you to everyone involved in putting this book out.
Also the illustrations before each story were incredible!
___________
Aah what heartwarming stories. I'm so glad such a book exists now. Though I really do wish such stories had been around when I was younger too...because I barely ever got to see Muslim characters in such glory. Thank you so much for putting this out in the world. Full RTC
____________
Happy Book Birthday to this collection!
Hey guys! Planning to read this over Eid. Would be cool if this could be a buddy/ group read
Comment to let me know if your interested!
if you're interested this is the link to the group we'd be doing this:
/group/invit...
___
Highly recommend to everyone. It's time to diversify what you read and learn about other experiences. There's a lot of misconceptions and Islamophobia out there educate yourself
____
I'm a 23 year old Muslim. When I was growing up there were no mainstream books with Muslim characters except for maybe The Kite Runner but that was a refugee story. I'm not saying that's not important; it was and I love that book. But the Muslims you see regularly like us did not have characters experiences to relate too.
And it's not just us Muslims; it's most of us POC and non christians. Growing up our children's books were filled with white characters. All illustrations were white. Books movies everything is about Christmas; we don't see other cultures or religions and it's not fair. Colouring in school we were told to use peaches and pinks for the skin no matter what colour was our skin. Reflecting on it I thought maybe it had something to do with the fact that my early school years were in a white majority place ( does not excuse it though there were a lot of black, brown kids in my class and a few east Asians and none of us were peach). But my sister is now 6 and we live where in a place where all of us are brown; and one day when we're sitting colouring she tells me that her teacher told her to colour face as peach. I was so annoyed and then I told her I don't know anyone that's peach. We then looked at pictures of people and illustrations over the internet and ended up using brown shades of brown with light browns and dark browns and all beautiful. I'm so glad my sister has a few books which have characters of colour illustrations and even one with a visibly Muslim - hijabi in them. Because let's be honest I'm so done with peach.
So you can tell how excited I must've been when I saw on social media S. K Ali and Aisha Saeed announce that their bringing an anthology of Eid related short stories in collaboration with other amazing writers.
I buddy read during Eid (perfect time) this with amazing GR friends Ahmed Ejaz and
Sabat.
This heart warming Muslim collection is filled with diverse stories representing different Muslim cultures; and a convert story; and being from a divorced family; and a refugee story and even being a minority within Muslims. Because there is no one typical Muslim Eid story it's different for all us but at the heart it's about the same thing coming together of a community. I wish these stories had been around when I younger but I'm happy they finally are.
1. Perfect by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow: ✰✰�
Overall fun story about African culture. Favourite scene was when Fanta's mom orders her through her eyes. Like that was so relatable whenever we're in public or out moms are scolding us and ordering us through their eyes 😂
Also the characters feeling embarrassed for not being in touch with their culture or to western world felt very real. The fights and etc made them feel like children which they were.
I love how through reading we explore other cultures. It's such a beautiful welcoming feeling!
2. Yusuf and The Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed: ✰✰�
Cute story reminded me of our own Eid traditions. But I really think it could've been shorter and been a children's picture book instead. I know Aisha Saeed has one Bilal makes Daal I think I'd like to read them to my younger sister if I ever find them. Most pictute books just have white people 😂
This was also the first time I read anything by Aisha Saeed; her books have been on my tbr for so long.
3. Kareem Means “Generous� by Asmaa Hussein: ✰✰✰✰�
the things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself.
Loved it.
I think what most non Muslims don't realise is how big of a part generosity and kindness plays in our religion (i think most religions).
I loved how realistic this story was. Children don't always want to share and care since birth but you can teach them.
This is especially a great message during these times when so many people are out of work. If one can help out by donating do as much as one can.
4. Don’ut Break Tradition by S.K Ali: ✰✰✰✰�
what makes a special day special?
This story was so beautifully written. It was simultaneously heart aching and heart warming. And i simultaneously hated and loved the mysterious vibes like they were coop but I thought her brother had died then thought their father had left them. My brain needs to stop jumping to conclusions that fast man.
It was also relatable. Eid used to be so special when we lived in a joint family; I used to be young and us kids would have so much fun. Then we moved to a different country with them and for one year it wasn't so cool. Then our grandparents moved here too and bought some special element with. And now they've passed away too. I don't have much family that lives here. So we pretty much just have a normal day but dress up for a few hours.
But I loved how children make Eid special. My sister is just 6 but since she was born we try to put in a little Eid effort take pictures etc.
Nadia was obviously older. But children overall are such a ray of sunshine.
I loved the idea of a whole community coming together too.
And also that scene where she's worried that her dad might not be able to afford the Eidi he gave; it's so emotional.
5. Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery : ✰✰✰✰
Personally I think it's pretty accurate depiction of choosing to wear a Hijab in this world (but I do not wear one so I'm not the best judge). Being warned about how others would make you feel doesn't make it better when it does happen.
But I honestly how normal this thing is. Racism sucks and also kills
#BlackLivesMatter it starts with subtle things like this being mean to muslims and black kids and one day you're a cop killing innocent black people. I cannot imagine what it feels like to be black in America; it's hell and no black parents should have to give their children the talk about this.. And can you believe how many atrocities the police must've committed that were not caught on camera. And these officers were just fired..that is not justice. George Flyod; Ahmed Aubrey were killed cause of white supremacy. #ICannotBreathe.
6. Gifts by Rukhsana Khan: ✰✰
Not sure why but mostly I found this one a bit boring. Don't get me wrong it's a nice story about learning and growing to like Ramadan. Nothing wrong with it though just we didn't vibe i guess. I did however like how it doesn't say fasting is to learn how poor people feel; it's to learn self restraint.
7. The Feast of Sacrifice by Hena Khan: ✰✰�
I sit down on a bench and look around at the crowd, watching the mix of people, old and young, rich and not, speaking different languages and wearing their nicest clothes. There’s a blend of colorful African prints, sparkling saris, leather kufis, and embroidered shalwar kameezes like mine. Everyone has happiness on their faces and is here for the same reason—to gather and feast and worship. It occurs to me that this is probably similar to what Mama described Hajj to be like, on a smaller scale. I hope I can make the pilgrimage one day too.
The beautiful diverse Islamic community coming together 🧡 I too hope that we can make the pilgrimage one day. This one is different; while most of the stories are about Eid ul Fitr (the one after Ramadan) this one is about the one I think is lesser known Eid ul Adha and Hajj. The sibling fights are so realistic. The growing relation with their grandparents is so pure. Really liked this one.
8. Seraj Captures the Moon by G. Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh: ✰✰✰✰�
I don't if she illustrated the whole book or just this story but this story and this whole book in fact as beautiful pictures. Loved this cute short adventurous graphic story. This reminds me of how confused we were about the moon this year so many people had finished their taraveeh prayers..I was 6/20 done when I learnt that it's Eid and I don't have to pray. Loved the donkey. I know Sven from Frozen isn't a donkey but that Kristoff's Sven's voice was this donkey's voice in my head. I'm gonna read this one to my little sister!
9. Searching for Blue by N. H. Senzai: ✰✰✰✰�
“always look beyond what your eyes initially recognize and find out what is real, what is possible, and what is the truth.�
Sometimes when I read or watch something absolutely beautiful I am at a loss of words. One of my favourite books of all time is Long Way Down my review from what I remember is just "this was Absolutely Beautiful". And this is what happened here I don't know what to say. While all the other stories are of Alhumdulilah (Thanks to God) about privileged families which some of us can relate to. But that's not what Eid is for everyone or any other celebratory occasion such as Christmas. This is the story of refugees. During these quarantine days I saw many people posting about now do we realise how it feels to be locked down in Yemen/Syria/Palestine/Kashmir but no we don't know; we can't know. We are safe in our homes not afraid that a bomb might blast us away any moment it is nothing alike. Everyone should read this story.
By the way if anyone ever asks what Ramadan is:
holy month of Ramadan, when you abstained, from dawn to dusk, not only from food and drink but also from negative thoughts and actions. It was a time of reflection, personal improvement, and increased devotion to God. It was also a month of charity
I think all 3 of us found this story to be our favourite.
10. Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin: ✰✰✰✰
How are all these stories so beautiful. This one is about a convert family who aren't so well financially. It's about family. And how friendships can be when you feel insecure about yourself financially. Her mom's character was so beautiful 💙
“It’s hard to see the beauty in things when you can’t see past your insecurities.�
11. Taste by Hanna Alkaf: ✰✰
This was a story in verse about a girl whose mom is in the hospital. It was heartbreaking but for some reason I didn't connect to it.
12. Eid Pictures by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: ✰✰✰✰
This was also in verse. This was beautiful.
13. Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi: ✰✰✰✰
Okay so Iraqi biryani is different from ours. I wonder how it is. On a serious note though; this was beautiful. Our main character is Shia in this one which is a minority Muslim sect; shia communities such as the Hazaras have often faced oppression (have you read the acclaimed The Kite Runner). This was a heartwarming story of coming together, looking at our similarities instead of differences and of new friendships.
14. Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu: ✰✰✰✰�
Joy and sorrow follow each other endlessly like moon phases, Maya Madinah. There are times of shining fullness and times of emptying out. Sometimes, before we can welcome joy in again, we need to acknowledge the sadness in our hearts
Oh this was just wonderful and heartwarming (seems like I'm saying that about all of them). Maya Madinah is torn because her parents have divorced and she wants to run away. She goes to her Aunt's. This has that magical childhood feeling when you just can't wait to grow up cause you think then everything will be according to your rules. Her aunt is such a beautiful character; paying attention to everything she is saying treating her like an actual person; instead of dismissing what a child is saying..because that is what so many do and not give children's thoughts the release they need. I also loved how her aunt used a religious story to teach her to choose joy; I've never heard of it in such a personal context. And of course this:
“Families can look a lot of different ways, Maya Madinah. And each of them is beautiful. We each have a biological family, the one we’re born into. You have your parents and relatives. And we each have a chosen family, which might include people we are related to and those we aren’t.
Such a beautiful way to put it. Also how calm we call kids of divorced parents as kids from broken homes. We should probably stop with that and teach these kids like this lit Aunt here and we need more empathetic language.
15. Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha’Allah by Randa Abdel-Fattah: ✰✰✰✰
This anthology ends on a great note. This story was about a family's road trip a day before Eid. It was fun! Also I was a lot like Noor!
Overall: � � � � �
Highly recommended to both Muslim and Non Muslim Readers!
And a big thank you to everyone involved in putting this book out.
Also the illustrations before each story were incredible!
___________
Aah what heartwarming stories. I'm so glad such a book exists now. Though I really do wish such stories had been around when I was younger too...because I barely ever got to see Muslim characters in such glory. Thank you so much for putting this out in the world. Full RTC
____________
Happy Book Birthday to this collection!
Hey guys! Planning to read this over Eid. Would be cool if this could be a buddy/ group read
Comment to let me know if your interested!
if you're interested this is the link to the group we'd be doing this:
/group/invit...
January 5, 2021
I have read this book in 2020 but i'm still thinking about it. It has the most accurate muslim representation i've ever read, the stories are so heartwarming, so sweet and it gives an insight on what Ramadan means to te muslim community and how families from different ethnicities celebrate it. I usually don't read middle grade books but i've gotten into them last year and i'm so glad i did!
If you want to read a diverse book by authors of color i urge you to support and read this one! For you or your young sibling or your little one!
If you want to read a diverse book by authors of color i urge you to support and read this one! For you or your young sibling or your little one!
December 3, 2019
You know that delish feeling of being wrapped in the warmth of a story filled with characters confident and true? How it feels like the whole world is content but it's not out there being content, it's actually in your heart being content? Contained and cozy?
That's a readerly-feeling I got to experience often as a kid -- in books like All-of-a-Kind-Family and Beverly Cleary's works. And Judy Blume's Fudge-escapades!
And now, we present you the same cozies, in settings familiar to those who've experienced Eid before, and brand new but totally inviting to those who haven't.
All are welcomed to these stories featuring characters at ease in their skins, with confidence in their hearts, discovering how fun it is to grow those hearts even bigger as they encounter challenges and adventures on a very special day in their lives. Step into Once Upon an Eid to celebrate with them, with us, and grow the world a little more happy! <333
That's a readerly-feeling I got to experience often as a kid -- in books like All-of-a-Kind-Family and Beverly Cleary's works. And Judy Blume's Fudge-escapades!
And now, we present you the same cozies, in settings familiar to those who've experienced Eid before, and brand new but totally inviting to those who haven't.
All are welcomed to these stories featuring characters at ease in their skins, with confidence in their hearts, discovering how fun it is to grow those hearts even bigger as they encounter challenges and adventures on a very special day in their lives. Step into Once Upon an Eid to celebrate with them, with us, and grow the world a little more happy! <333
June 12, 2023
4/5 �
This was so sweet and perfect!!!!😭
This consists of 13 different Eid stories to warm your heart and I recommend this to everyone who wants to experience all those happy feelings of Eid.
It had short stories of the people who are from different race and countries and are getting together for eid. Let me tell you I related with every single one of them.!!! This had the best Muslim rep ever.
I loved every single one them, especially the one where the girl is jealous of her cousin and hates her cz she is 'miss popular of the family'😭 ong every one of us got that one cousin! Ahhh this made me feel all those eid sweet warm feelings all over again !�
-----
The blurb 😭💖
This was so sweet and perfect!!!!😭
This consists of 13 different Eid stories to warm your heart and I recommend this to everyone who wants to experience all those happy feelings of Eid.
It had short stories of the people who are from different race and countries and are getting together for eid. Let me tell you I related with every single one of them.!!! This had the best Muslim rep ever.
I loved every single one them, especially the one where the girl is jealous of her cousin and hates her cz she is 'miss popular of the family'😭 ong every one of us got that one cousin! Ahhh this made me feel all those eid sweet warm feelings all over again !�
-----
The blurb 😭💖
November 25, 2023
This may be one of the best anthologies I've ever read. Every story was delightful and unique, and the idea that the anthology is about Eid and how Eid can be and look and celebrated differently by Muslims, highlighting how beautiful Islam and diverse Muslim people are? I loved it!
- This anthology contains 15 short stories accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Sara Alfageeh, about young Muslim kids during Eid and centers on what Eid represents and celebrates.
- There are stories by and about Asian Muslims, Black Muslims, Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Middle-Eastern Muslims, and I loved how this book celebrates and honours diversity.
- I think this anthology is perfect for younger readers, especially Muslim kids! The stories are so tender, so genuine, and written with so much love. It explores love and joy, but also explores sorrow and grief, told in a soft and gentle way.
- This anthology contains 15 short stories accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Sara Alfageeh, about young Muslim kids during Eid and centers on what Eid represents and celebrates.
- There are stories by and about Asian Muslims, Black Muslims, Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Middle-Eastern Muslims, and I loved how this book celebrates and honours diversity.
- I think this anthology is perfect for younger readers, especially Muslim kids! The stories are so tender, so genuine, and written with so much love. It explores love and joy, but also explores sorrow and grief, told in a soft and gentle way.
May 14, 2020
4.5 stars
Once Upon an Eid was a heart warming and uplifting anthology all about the indescribable joy of Eid and its power to bring people together. It was full of wholesome, own-voices Muslim representation and it's a brilliant read for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. As a Muslim, I felt like a saw a small piece of myself in every story and I think many others will feel the same. I loved how Muslims with so many different cultures and Eid traditions were represented. Reading this anthology during Ramadan made the experience even better, filling me up with fuzzy, warm joy!
(1) Perfect by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, 4 stars: A twelve-year-old Black American hijabinista named Hawa was nervous about spending Eid-ul-Fitr with her father's side of the family from Guinea in New York. Despite what her father thought, she didn't feel like the 'perfect Mandinka girl' at all. It was about accepting all the different parts of herself and becoming closer to family. I could really sympathise with how awkward it can be to navigate language barriers and meet unfamiliar extended family.
(2) Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed, 4 stars: Yusuf was distraught when his favourite Eid tradition of making brownies went wrong and his sister decided she had grown out of it. This one was about the importance of tradition, but also how it can change. About how doing things with family can make them better.
(3) Kareem Means Generous by Asmaa Hussein, 4.5 stars: Generosity is a core value that Islam teaches and, as the title suggests, this story was about a boy called Kareem learning about the importance of generosity and kindness by helping out a friend. He realised that not every one was as lucky as him and giving brought him more happiness than keeping everything to himself.
(4) Don'ut Break Tradition by S. K. Ali, 4.5 stars: For Nadia, this Eid didn't feel special because her mum was ill. This story was all about how Nadia was determined to make Eid special for her mother and the rest of her family. It was about the power of tradition and the magnitude small gestures can have. I loved how every member of the family was represented by a donut and the hopeful message the story had which really resonated with me.
(5) Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery, 4 stars: Eleven-year-old Leila decided that she was ready to wear hijab, however, her parents weren't so sure. She took her time with it learning how to wear it and feel comfortable with it before wearing it outside. She decided that she didn't mind how other people reacted to her hijab because it was how she wanted to express her faith and it felt right for her. I liked how this story went against the idea that some people have that Muslims are 'forced' to wear hijab and it instead showed the pride, strength and connection that wearing hijab can bring. I also loved this story's emphasis on colour.
(6) Gifts by Rukhsana Khan, 4 stars: Idrees was excited for Eid because he was excited to receive his gifts. He gradually realised though that the real gifts in his life were the non material aspects like love, memories and worship.
(7) The Feast of Sacrifice by Hena Khan, 4 stars: This one was set around Eid-ul-Adha. Humza and his siblings had to stay with their grandparents whilst their parents embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage. As the eldest sibling, Humza was struggling having to be more responsible for his siblings and didn't like his grandparents' less exciting way of celebrating Eid. This story was about making sacrifices, about not being selfish and being able to give for someone else to receive. It was also about the importance of community in Islam, especially around Eid.
(8) Seraj Captures the Moon by G. Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh, 4 stars: This was a really cute graphic short story where a boy called Seraj goes looking for the Eid moon in a hot air balloon. It was also about the importance of sometimes blocking out all the noise and distractions to focus on faith and sharing joy.
(9) Searching for Blue by N. H. Senzai, 5 stars: This story was about celebrating Eid at a refugee camp in Greece. Bassem felt like their prayers were going unanswered and they had been forgotten. However, with everyone banding together they all managed to pull together a joyful, hopeful Eid for everyone despite their circumstances. It was really thought provoking and presented the many hardships and sorrows that refugees face and the writing was beautiful.
(10) Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin, 4.5 stars: Makayla's family had converted to Islam and all the changes to their lives were a lot for her to take in. It was about her finding the self confidence to be proud of herself and enjoy her first Eid.
(11) Taste by Hana Alkaf, 5 stars: Alia's mother had been in a car accident and was in hospital, she was so upset and ridden with guilt that all her food lost its taste. But that wouldn't stop her from cooking the lontong they had every Eid. It was about opening up to family and the power of food to bring people together. The writing was so compelling, I loved it!
(12) Eid Pictures by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, 4 stars: This was a moving poem about how Eid celebrations have changed over time and how the first Black Muslims in America must have celebrated their first Eids there.
(13) Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi, 4 stars: This story focused on a girl called Aya who was the only Muslim in her school which she didn't mind until an uncomfortable lesson about Sunni and Shia Muslims. The main message of the story was Sunni or Shia, we're all Muslims- one community- and that it what matters most.
(14) Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu, 4 stars: Maya Madinah didn't know how to enjoy Eid after her parents had divorced. She hated everyone else's joy and wanted to run away. This was a story about embracing change and focusing on creating love and joy around yourself.
(15) Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha'Allah by Randa Abdel-Fattah, 4 stars: Deyana, her three younger siblings and her parents were embarking on their annual Eid-ul-Fitr road trip to visit her grandparents who lived near Sydney. She missed the peace she had when she was an only child and found her brothers and sister frustrating beyond belief. This story was about how love between family can overcome anger and the importance of patience and responsibility. It was really cute and funny.
All the short stories in the anthology were sweet and simple with a young main character and a moral or lesson to learn. I thought this was a good thing making the book accessible to a vast audience and a wide range of ages. I loved how all the stories focused on the core values of Islam and the true spirit of Eid: faith, family, community, kindness, generosity, responsibility and joy.
Thank you to Amulet Books for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Once Upon an Eid was a heart warming and uplifting anthology all about the indescribable joy of Eid and its power to bring people together. It was full of wholesome, own-voices Muslim representation and it's a brilliant read for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. As a Muslim, I felt like a saw a small piece of myself in every story and I think many others will feel the same. I loved how Muslims with so many different cultures and Eid traditions were represented. Reading this anthology during Ramadan made the experience even better, filling me up with fuzzy, warm joy!
(1) Perfect by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, 4 stars: A twelve-year-old Black American hijabinista named Hawa was nervous about spending Eid-ul-Fitr with her father's side of the family from Guinea in New York. Despite what her father thought, she didn't feel like the 'perfect Mandinka girl' at all. It was about accepting all the different parts of herself and becoming closer to family. I could really sympathise with how awkward it can be to navigate language barriers and meet unfamiliar extended family.
(2) Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed, 4 stars: Yusuf was distraught when his favourite Eid tradition of making brownies went wrong and his sister decided she had grown out of it. This one was about the importance of tradition, but also how it can change. About how doing things with family can make them better.
(3) Kareem Means Generous by Asmaa Hussein, 4.5 stars: Generosity is a core value that Islam teaches and, as the title suggests, this story was about a boy called Kareem learning about the importance of generosity and kindness by helping out a friend. He realised that not every one was as lucky as him and giving brought him more happiness than keeping everything to himself.
"Anytime you share something you love, it comes right back to you like a boomerang. You never lose it."
(4) Don'ut Break Tradition by S. K. Ali, 4.5 stars: For Nadia, this Eid didn't feel special because her mum was ill. This story was all about how Nadia was determined to make Eid special for her mother and the rest of her family. It was about the power of tradition and the magnitude small gestures can have. I loved how every member of the family was represented by a donut and the hopeful message the story had which really resonated with me.
(5) Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery, 4 stars: Eleven-year-old Leila decided that she was ready to wear hijab, however, her parents weren't so sure. She took her time with it learning how to wear it and feel comfortable with it before wearing it outside. She decided that she didn't mind how other people reacted to her hijab because it was how she wanted to express her faith and it felt right for her. I liked how this story went against the idea that some people have that Muslims are 'forced' to wear hijab and it instead showed the pride, strength and connection that wearing hijab can bring. I also loved this story's emphasis on colour.
(6) Gifts by Rukhsana Khan, 4 stars: Idrees was excited for Eid because he was excited to receive his gifts. He gradually realised though that the real gifts in his life were the non material aspects like love, memories and worship.
"It's not the gift. It's the love behind it"
(7) The Feast of Sacrifice by Hena Khan, 4 stars: This one was set around Eid-ul-Adha. Humza and his siblings had to stay with their grandparents whilst their parents embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage. As the eldest sibling, Humza was struggling having to be more responsible for his siblings and didn't like his grandparents' less exciting way of celebrating Eid. This story was about making sacrifices, about not being selfish and being able to give for someone else to receive. It was also about the importance of community in Islam, especially around Eid.
(8) Seraj Captures the Moon by G. Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh, 4 stars: This was a really cute graphic short story where a boy called Seraj goes looking for the Eid moon in a hot air balloon. It was also about the importance of sometimes blocking out all the noise and distractions to focus on faith and sharing joy.
(9) Searching for Blue by N. H. Senzai, 5 stars: This story was about celebrating Eid at a refugee camp in Greece. Bassem felt like their prayers were going unanswered and they had been forgotten. However, with everyone banding together they all managed to pull together a joyful, hopeful Eid for everyone despite their circumstances. It was really thought provoking and presented the many hardships and sorrows that refugees face and the writing was beautiful.
(10) Creative Fixes by Ashley Franklin, 4.5 stars: Makayla's family had converted to Islam and all the changes to their lives were a lot for her to take in. It was about her finding the self confidence to be proud of herself and enjoy her first Eid.
"It's hard to see the beauty in things when you can't see past your insecurities"
(11) Taste by Hana Alkaf, 5 stars: Alia's mother had been in a car accident and was in hospital, she was so upset and ridden with guilt that all her food lost its taste. But that wouldn't stop her from cooking the lontong they had every Eid. It was about opening up to family and the power of food to bring people together. The writing was so compelling, I loved it!
(12) Eid Pictures by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, 4 stars: This was a moving poem about how Eid celebrations have changed over time and how the first Black Muslims in America must have celebrated their first Eids there.
(13) Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi, 4 stars: This story focused on a girl called Aya who was the only Muslim in her school which she didn't mind until an uncomfortable lesson about Sunni and Shia Muslims. The main message of the story was Sunni or Shia, we're all Muslims- one community- and that it what matters most.
(14) Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu, 4 stars: Maya Madinah didn't know how to enjoy Eid after her parents had divorced. She hated everyone else's joy and wanted to run away. This was a story about embracing change and focusing on creating love and joy around yourself.
(15) Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha'Allah by Randa Abdel-Fattah, 4 stars: Deyana, her three younger siblings and her parents were embarking on their annual Eid-ul-Fitr road trip to visit her grandparents who lived near Sydney. She missed the peace she had when she was an only child and found her brothers and sister frustrating beyond belief. This story was about how love between family can overcome anger and the importance of patience and responsibility. It was really cute and funny.
All the short stories in the anthology were sweet and simple with a young main character and a moral or lesson to learn. I thought this was a good thing making the book accessible to a vast audience and a wide range of ages. I loved how all the stories focused on the core values of Islam and the true spirit of Eid: faith, family, community, kindness, generosity, responsibility and joy.
Thank you to Amulet Books for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 27, 2021
This was our group read for the #allyathon readathon.
Included in my May Wrap Up video:
This book is not just about Eid - its about different cultures and there was so much representation in this book! This was a good opportunity for the authors to do that and they took FULL advantage of it.
The full page illustrations are beautiful!
I wish the graphic novel chapter was longer!
The stories were thought provoking, image inducing
5 stars!
Included in my May Wrap Up video:
This book is not just about Eid - its about different cultures and there was so much representation in this book! This was a good opportunity for the authors to do that and they took FULL advantage of it.
The full page illustrations are beautiful!
I wish the graphic novel chapter was longer!
The stories were thought provoking, image inducing
5 stars!
January 23, 2021
This book is so festive. I like reading about different cultures and this book had that warm, comfy, welcoming feeling to it. Although each story is centred around Eid but it still shared something unique that I as a reader could resonate with. Be it the joy of seeing the community getting together by sharing traditional food or seeing someone trying to know the meaning behind Eid felt so personal and real. The best part about this Anthony is how all the authors incorporated islamic principles like faith, generosity, hope and acceptance to say the least. It's definitely a feel good kind of book, one that will truely touch your heart and will make you see things differently.
April 8, 2022
this may very well be the first short story collection in which i genuinely enjoyed all of the stories :�) each main character had such a distinct voice and i loved reading about all the different ways Eid is celebrated!
my favorite stories were probably “seraj captures the moon,� “kareem means ‘generous�,� “searching for blue,� and “not only an only�
highly recommend!
my favorite stories were probably “seraj captures the moon,� “kareem means ‘generous�,� “searching for blue,� and “not only an only�
highly recommend!
October 1, 2020
this both made me cry and gave me the best feelings possible
May 3, 2020
ARC received via netgalley.
Once upon an Eid is an anthology of stories about Muslim holidays that are filled with joy, happiness, diversity and love. It's edited by one of my favourite authors S.K.Ali and Aisha Saeed, with contributions from 13 other authors.
This was really, really cute. This won't be the longest review because this is written as a children's book and really isn't very complicated.... but there's no denying that many of these stories were absolutely adorable. These stories were the embodiment of joy and happiness. Each one left you with a good feeling at the end.
I definitely had my favourites. S.K. Ali's story made my tear up a little bit and Randa Abdelfattah's made me laugh hysterically - seeing an Australian author and story included was something I really appreciated.. I also had a few that I wont name that I didn't like very much but that's just what happens in anthologies.
This was a really important book. I've always felt to be reasonably knowledgeable about cultures and religions other than my own but I feel like I learnt a lot about Islamic terminology and what it's like to grow up Muslim. I was able to get a taste of how important and loving Muslim communities are. Learning about Eid's from a Catholic perspective in school led me to believe they were often a somber event whereas this anthology really made me feel the happiness of these holidays.
This book is important both for non-Muslims to better understand Islamic culture or religion and for Muslims to be able to see their lives represented in paper by authors who are just like them.
I'm rating this one 3.5 stars out of 5 because while I loved a few of the stories and think it's really important representation, I'm not the biggest fan of children's books (the personal enjoyment wasn't always there) and there were a few stories where the writing style really wasn't to my taste.
Once upon an Eid is an anthology of stories about Muslim holidays that are filled with joy, happiness, diversity and love. It's edited by one of my favourite authors S.K.Ali and Aisha Saeed, with contributions from 13 other authors.
This was really, really cute. This won't be the longest review because this is written as a children's book and really isn't very complicated.... but there's no denying that many of these stories were absolutely adorable. These stories were the embodiment of joy and happiness. Each one left you with a good feeling at the end.
I definitely had my favourites. S.K. Ali's story made my tear up a little bit and Randa Abdelfattah's made me laugh hysterically - seeing an Australian author and story included was something I really appreciated.. I also had a few that I wont name that I didn't like very much but that's just what happens in anthologies.
This was a really important book. I've always felt to be reasonably knowledgeable about cultures and religions other than my own but I feel like I learnt a lot about Islamic terminology and what it's like to grow up Muslim. I was able to get a taste of how important and loving Muslim communities are. Learning about Eid's from a Catholic perspective in school led me to believe they were often a somber event whereas this anthology really made me feel the happiness of these holidays.
This book is important both for non-Muslims to better understand Islamic culture or religion and for Muslims to be able to see their lives represented in paper by authors who are just like them.
I'm rating this one 3.5 stars out of 5 because while I loved a few of the stories and think it's really important representation, I'm not the biggest fan of children's books (the personal enjoyment wasn't always there) and there were a few stories where the writing style really wasn't to my taste.
May 1, 2020
i received an ARC of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange of an honest review. this does not affect my thoughts in any way.
Once Upon an Eid is a celebration of the joy and magic that is Eid. throughout multiple short stories, we discover Eid through multiple cultures and families. and it was. so. cute. i even felt tears in the corners of my eyes multiple times.
each contributor in this anthology brings something new and special. i felt more love growing inside me after every story, which were all unique in their own way, with a little lesson for the characters and for the people reading them. it reminded me of the purpose of celebrating Eid, the whole happiness surrounding it, and how it all feels.
because this book sets the mood for Eid. with descriptions of food and family gatherings and traditions and more. it even made me a little sad that i probably won’t be participating in that this year.
in conclusion, Once Upon an Eid is an anthology that garantees happiness, a lot of new information for muslim and non-muslims, and maybe a few tears. but you will have a great time reading it.
Once Upon an Eid is a celebration of the joy and magic that is Eid. throughout multiple short stories, we discover Eid through multiple cultures and families. and it was. so. cute. i even felt tears in the corners of my eyes multiple times.
each contributor in this anthology brings something new and special. i felt more love growing inside me after every story, which were all unique in their own way, with a little lesson for the characters and for the people reading them. it reminded me of the purpose of celebrating Eid, the whole happiness surrounding it, and how it all feels.
because this book sets the mood for Eid. with descriptions of food and family gatherings and traditions and more. it even made me a little sad that i probably won’t be participating in that this year.
in conclusion, Once Upon an Eid is an anthology that garantees happiness, a lot of new information for muslim and non-muslims, and maybe a few tears. but you will have a great time reading it.
June 8, 2021
"What makes a day special?
Smiles. Favorite-colored dresses and fancy lips.
And smells."
This book!!! ❤️❤️❤️ It was soo sweet, and adorable and surprisingly such a tear jerker!
It is a heartwarming collection of 15 short stories about Muslims based around Eid. It felt like each author presented their best in these stories because I enjoyed EACH ONE of them thoroughly. It made me cry sooo much though! When I was feeling the happiness of the characters or their troubles. Each story spoke to me, and every one of them was very strong, which I haven't experienced before in an anthology. It felt so good to be represented, to read about the customs, teachings, and traditions that I've grown up with. Each story was different - ranging from stories of refugees, to converts, to a household with a sick mother, to even the different sects within the Muslim community so, even though I could relate with a lot of things, I was also learning about various Muslim cultures all around the world.
"When you grow old like me, you realise that the things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself."
When I was reading this part, if I closed my eyes, I could completely imagine sitting with grandmother or my own mother as they taught us kids these sayings, and told us stories of Prophet Mohammad PBUH in the easiest way possible so that we could extract learnings from them and implement them in our lives. I cannot express into words how amazing it felt to be reading the same things in these stories.
I am going to hold this book so close to my heart for the sheer joy it has given me, and for including me in 15 different celebrations of Eid! And now, for all those people who ask me "what do you do on Eid?", "how is Eid celebrated?", I know how to really explain it to them without really saying anything.❤️
Smiles. Favorite-colored dresses and fancy lips.
And smells."
This book!!! ❤️❤️❤️ It was soo sweet, and adorable and surprisingly such a tear jerker!
It is a heartwarming collection of 15 short stories about Muslims based around Eid. It felt like each author presented their best in these stories because I enjoyed EACH ONE of them thoroughly. It made me cry sooo much though! When I was feeling the happiness of the characters or their troubles. Each story spoke to me, and every one of them was very strong, which I haven't experienced before in an anthology. It felt so good to be represented, to read about the customs, teachings, and traditions that I've grown up with. Each story was different - ranging from stories of refugees, to converts, to a household with a sick mother, to even the different sects within the Muslim community so, even though I could relate with a lot of things, I was also learning about various Muslim cultures all around the world.
"When you grow old like me, you realise that the things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself."
When I was reading this part, if I closed my eyes, I could completely imagine sitting with grandmother or my own mother as they taught us kids these sayings, and told us stories of Prophet Mohammad PBUH in the easiest way possible so that we could extract learnings from them and implement them in our lives. I cannot express into words how amazing it felt to be reading the same things in these stories.
I am going to hold this book so close to my heart for the sheer joy it has given me, and for including me in 15 different celebrations of Eid! And now, for all those people who ask me "what do you do on Eid?", "how is Eid celebrated?", I know how to really explain it to them without really saying anything.❤️
April 15, 2021
A devastatingly beautiful and at times heartbreaking collection of short stories about faith, family and friendship. Highly recommend this for younger and older readers. Absolutely wondrous.
December 16, 2022
Since this is a grouping of a bunch of stories, I wanted to review it a bit differently. I love that holidays can be spent in so many different ways and have so many different traditions even with the ideals staying the same across the board... across the universe. I loved every story for its own reason and wanted to share my favorite quotes to explain why:
"You realize the things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself."
"Anytime you share something you love, it comes right back to you like a boomerang: you never lose it."
"It's never about the gift, it's the love behind it."
"Always look beyond what your eyes initially recognize and find out what is real, what is possible, and what is the truth."
"It's hard to see the beauty in things when you can't look past your insecurities."
"You realize the things you give away make you happier than the things you keep for yourself."
"Anytime you share something you love, it comes right back to you like a boomerang: you never lose it."
"It's never about the gift, it's the love behind it."
"Always look beyond what your eyes initially recognize and find out what is real, what is possible, and what is the truth."
"It's hard to see the beauty in things when you can't look past your insecurities."
to-buy
June 7, 2022Good news to get while still celebrating eid! Eid Mubarak my sisters!
Read
January 7, 2022put this in all elementary/middle school libraries NOW!
recommend: yes. note that the stories are geared towards children/middle grade! and that they all kind of aim at teaching a lesson (ex: sharing is caring) that children stories tend to teach. wish i had this on my shelf growing up- i absolutely loved the diverse representation as well as the adorable illustrations!!
recommend: yes. note that the stories are geared towards children/middle grade! and that they all kind of aim at teaching a lesson (ex: sharing is caring) that children stories tend to teach. wish i had this on my shelf growing up- i absolutely loved the diverse representation as well as the adorable illustrations!!
May 4, 2020
| Review by Annie McCann
The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month on the Islamic Calendar. It is the holiest month of the year for Muslims as it was during the month of Ramadan when Islam was born. This is the time Muslims observe the fast during daylight hours to remember those less fortunate and to also reflect on our lives and remember to remain humble. A time for prayer, a time of family and togetherness. Of course, this year � everything has changed but one thing that shows hope during a challenging time is a beautiful collection of short stories called Once Upon an Eid, a compilation of wonderful short stories composed by Muslim authors from around the world. This was a chance to share our most sacred holiday, Eid, which marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Many call this “The Muslim Christmas� and whilst we don’t celebrate a birthday, Eid is the one word that can bring out mixed emotions and memories for the Islamic community. In this particular book, authors share what Eid can mean to them from their own perspectives and cultures. From the sound of frying samosas to the comfort of bean pie or the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, gift-giving, and holiday parties. Whatever it is, Eid is a very special day for Muslims worldwide.
As a Muslim reader and blogger, I was honoured to have received an advance copy to be one of the first readers in Australia to enjoy this amazing book. I was also very elated to see a compilation that brings positive light to our community and faith by telling stories of our most auspicious occasion. I believe this is a compilation that can be enjoyed by both Muslims and non Muslims alike as it’s told in a way that many can relate from family ties to celebration, food, and togetherness. The compilation is so cleverly constructed that includes not just short stories but a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations. The emotional responses to each experience shared in this compilation can be summed up in one word: joy
What I loved most about this compilation was how diverse it was. Although the authors were Muslim, each author was of a different culture and each story brought out many different cultures and rituals during Eid. It was amazing to discover different cultures through stories. What I also loved was how not every story was a happy story � realistically not all Muslims have the joy of really celebrating a happy Eid due to family issues, finance, or health and this too was beautifully captured in this compilation. The graphic story within the compilation was also a favourite and was quite clever. The editors did an amazing job in putting this together and I truly believe this compilation is an opportunity for Muslims to read something they can relate to as well as reach out and bridge a gap with the wider community.
The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month on the Islamic Calendar. It is the holiest month of the year for Muslims as it was during the month of Ramadan when Islam was born. This is the time Muslims observe the fast during daylight hours to remember those less fortunate and to also reflect on our lives and remember to remain humble. A time for prayer, a time of family and togetherness. Of course, this year � everything has changed but one thing that shows hope during a challenging time is a beautiful collection of short stories called Once Upon an Eid, a compilation of wonderful short stories composed by Muslim authors from around the world. This was a chance to share our most sacred holiday, Eid, which marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Many call this “The Muslim Christmas� and whilst we don’t celebrate a birthday, Eid is the one word that can bring out mixed emotions and memories for the Islamic community. In this particular book, authors share what Eid can mean to them from their own perspectives and cultures. From the sound of frying samosas to the comfort of bean pie or the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, gift-giving, and holiday parties. Whatever it is, Eid is a very special day for Muslims worldwide.
As a Muslim reader and blogger, I was honoured to have received an advance copy to be one of the first readers in Australia to enjoy this amazing book. I was also very elated to see a compilation that brings positive light to our community and faith by telling stories of our most auspicious occasion. I believe this is a compilation that can be enjoyed by both Muslims and non Muslims alike as it’s told in a way that many can relate from family ties to celebration, food, and togetherness. The compilation is so cleverly constructed that includes not just short stories but a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations. The emotional responses to each experience shared in this compilation can be summed up in one word: joy
What I loved most about this compilation was how diverse it was. Although the authors were Muslim, each author was of a different culture and each story brought out many different cultures and rituals during Eid. It was amazing to discover different cultures through stories. What I also loved was how not every story was a happy story � realistically not all Muslims have the joy of really celebrating a happy Eid due to family issues, finance, or health and this too was beautifully captured in this compilation. The graphic story within the compilation was also a favourite and was quite clever. The editors did an amazing job in putting this together and I truly believe this compilation is an opportunity for Muslims to read something they can relate to as well as reach out and bridge a gap with the wider community.
Read
April 24, 2020As a kid this book would've made all the difference but I am so glad that this book exists and so many Muslim kids would be able to see themselves in these characters and will feel the same joy these characters felt.
I was so excited for this book and it didn't disappoint me at all. Because the book is middle grade, all of the stories are very straightforward and easy to understand. Each story brings something very unique to the whole book and I absolutely loved all of them.
Listen, I have read so many Christmas books given the fact that I don't even celebrate the holiday, it still never failed to bring joy and smile to my face. But reading about an occasion that is a part of who I am? reading about something that always brings joy to me was something else. Even though the characters in the book are way young but the excitement of Eid, the feeling of happiness and satisfaction was still there.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha are equally important to me as a muslim and this book made it possible for me to read about it as well and I am so emotional about it. We need more books like this.
E-ARC was provided to me by Netgalley and AbramsKids in exchange of an honest review.
I was so excited for this book and it didn't disappoint me at all. Because the book is middle grade, all of the stories are very straightforward and easy to understand. Each story brings something very unique to the whole book and I absolutely loved all of them.
Listen, I have read so many Christmas books given the fact that I don't even celebrate the holiday, it still never failed to bring joy and smile to my face. But reading about an occasion that is a part of who I am? reading about something that always brings joy to me was something else. Even though the characters in the book are way young but the excitement of Eid, the feeling of happiness and satisfaction was still there.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha are equally important to me as a muslim and this book made it possible for me to read about it as well and I am so emotional about it. We need more books like this.
E-ARC was provided to me by Netgalley and AbramsKids in exchange of an honest review.
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