I picked up this book because it is written by one of my favorite authors. I appreciated all of the detail on the meaning behind Ramadan, the elements involved in the month of fasting, and the variety of traditions practiced by Muslims around the world. If I had kids, this is definitely a book I would encourage them to read to expand their knowledge and appreciation of other cultures and religions. ( )

Ramadan, by Ausma Zehanat Khan, is part of the Orca Origins series for middle readers. As the title suggests, this book looks at the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Chapter One is titled 'What is Ramadan’, but may better be titled 'Introduction to Islam’, as it serves as a brief overview of the religion and it's followers. Chapter Two looks at the specifics of the holy month, while Chapter Three focuses on the spirit behind Ramadan. Chapter Four looks at Ramadan traditions from around the world. The beginning opens with a sweet tale of the author's first Ramadan fast, at age 9. Unprepared for the full reality of a day long fast, she snuck two glasses of water eight hours in.

This book introduces young readers to the proper practise of Islam, as a religion of peace and compassion, just like its counterparts of Judaism, and Christianity. It gives children a different view than what news, or paranoid family might present. Threaded throughout the chapters are little boxes where the author asked kids and teens what Ramadan meant to them. These were so heart-warming. I'm a big proponent of studying and accepting other cultures, and foster this respect in my cubs. This book certainly prompted questions, and made them eager to learn more. Recipes are included, and we plan on trying them out!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )

It's. So. Beautiful.

The epub.

I am so used to getting epubs that aren't final versions or are final versions and just suck, with weird margins and fonts, and low-res images I can't make head nor tails of. Ramadan by Ausma Zehanat Khan is just so beautiful and colourful and laid out in such a way that what I'm focusing on is the fact that someone, somewhere (I guess, to be specific, someone(s) at Orca Publishing) knows how to make beautiful epubs.

So beautiful.

Content: A good introduction to Ramadan for kids, probably up to early high school. There are recipes (lassi, yay!) and information, but it's so beautiful it could have just been lorem ipsum text in parts because the pictures and layout, be still my graphic-design beating heart. It would be good for a classroom discussion, maybe taking the pressure off any Muslims to feel like they have to be ambassadors/educators to everyone else (I remember a classmate fasting for Ramadan for the first time growing weary of having to explain again and again and again).

But the beauty. It's so beautiful the book. It's worth it for the beauty alone.

Ramadan by Ausma Zehanat Khan went on sale March 27, 2018.

I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )