The Gift of Ramadan

 Shirley J.            Juvenile literature                             Explains Ramadan customs and fasting    

The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard  32 pages

This book tells the story of Sophia, her family and particularly her relationship with her grandmother.  Sophia wants to fast for Ramadan but she is little and it is hard for her to fast from water and food from sunrise to sunset.  Children, the elderly or infirm and pregnant/nursing mothers are not expected to observe the whole fast as are older children and adults.   Ramadan is observed for 30 days with no food or water taken throughout the day.  Families can rise early and have breakfast before the sun comes up and they can have dinner together once the sun goes down but during daylight hours nothing no water and no food must be eaten nor drank.   It is a very informative story of Ramadan and I, as an adult, learned a lot.  I recommend this story to listeners on up to 3rd grade, though, it would be a good family story time read with discussion after.