Under the Ramadan Moon

By Sylvia Whitman and Sue Williams

"We wait for the moon. We watch for the moon. We watch for the Ramadan moon. We give to the poor, and read Qur'an, under the moon. We live our faith, until next year under the moon, under the moon, under the Ramadan moon."

Ramadan is one of the most special months of the Islamic year, when Muslims pray, fast, and help those in need. The lyrical story, with luminous illustrations, serves as an introduction to Ramadan—a time for reflection and ritual with family and friends. A detailed note about Ramadan is included.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Release date: Mar 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780807593363

Sylvia Whitman

Sylvia Whitman, a writer and educator, has published a slew of articles and a handful of children’s history books as well as a picture book, Under the Ramadan Moon. A folklore and mythology major in college, she has always liked proverbs, particularly this one: “A book is a garden carried in the pocket.” She lives with her husband and two kids in Arlington, Virginia. Visit her at SylviaWhitmanBooks.com.

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Reviews for Under the Ramadan Moon

[Sugako ElBayad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like the book " Under the Ramadan moon" because its well written and there are also very few books in English for muslim kids

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

With a lyrical text that makes excellent use of repetition - "We wait for the moon. We watch for the moon. We watch for the Ramadan moon." - and soft pastel illustrations that are full of light and warmth, author Sylvia Whitman and illustrator Sue Williams have created a lovely picture-book celebration of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, in Under the Ramadan Moon. Each two-page spread features friends and family engaged in some activity - reading the Qur'an, visiting friends, giving to the poor - that it is important in this month of religious observance, until the final page - "We live our faith / until next year / under the moon, / under the moon, / under the Ramadan moon." - which brings the narrative to a lovely conclusion.I really appreciated this picture-book celebration of Ramadan, largely because it is a celebration of this important time in the Islamic year, rather than just an explanation of it. Which is not to say that it isn't informative (there is an excellent afterword by the author, after all, explaining the holiday), just that the text doesn't feel overly didactic. The narrative is simple, and the artwork charming, so I think this one would work well with younger children. For those looking for slightly more advanced stories with this theme, I also recommend Asma Mobin-Uddin's A Party in Ramadan, Hena Khan's Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story, and Maha Addasi's The White Nights of Ramadan.