Book Review of Looking for the Eid Moon and The Ramadan Drummer
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The Children’s Book Review
What to Expect: Islamic culture, celebration, diversity, and family.
Writing from her own Syrian American experiences and traditions, Sahtinay Abaza’s two beautiful books are filled with messages about family, kindness, and acceptance that transcend Islamic culture and are sure to resonate with any family. Ramadan and Eid are steeped in beautiful traditions and stories—but sometimes, it’s not the stories but the lessons within them that are important.
In The Ramadan Drummer, Adam finds it hard to honor the poor while his belly is growling with hunger from the Ramadan fast. In Looking for the Eid Moon, Sara is determined not to start the Eid festival until she and her sister Lulu have first been to spot the Eid Moon. However, a visit from the Ramadan drummer helps Adam remember that Ramadan is really about good deeds and helping others, and Lulu’s tears when they fail to spot the Eid Moon reminds Sara the same thing.
With creativity and kind hearts, these two children set out to do what really matters during these celebrations: share their love with family, friends, and community.
Adam, Lulu, and Sara are believable characters whose good deeds are tempered by realistic desires and worries of their own. Simple language, lots of dialogue, and rich descriptions make the text both accessible and immersive, while beautiful, dream-like artwork evokes the mystery of these timeless celebrations. Extensive author’s and illustrator’s notes at the end of each book teach readers more about Islamic culture and the contexts in which the book creators grew up.
Looking for the Eid Moon and The Ramadan Drummer are evocative, informative, and colorful explorations of community, tradition, and love.
Written by Sahtinay Abaza
Illustrated by Sandra Eide
Ages: 4-6 | 18 Pages
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781534113091
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Written by Sahtinay Abaza
Illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
Ages: 4-6 | 23 Pages
Publisher: Reycraft Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781478879145
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About the Author
Sahtinay Abaza has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA. She spent most of her career working with software companies around the globe. She grew up in the United Arab Emirates before making Jacksonville, Florida her permanent home. Having experienced life on both ends of the globe, she is an advocate for diversity and inclusion. Most importantly, Sahtinay is a proud mother of two little girls, who have been the main source of inspiration behind the stories she writes.
For more information, visit https://abazabooks.com/.
About the Illustrator
Sandra Eide‘s art is influenced by her childhood in the Pacific Northwest, her family and animal friends, and her multicultural heritage. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the Illustrator
Born and raised in Soviet Uzbekistan, Dinara Mirtalipova is a self-taught artist and designer with a special love for folk art and lore. Now based in snowy Northern Ohio, she has illustrated dozens of picture and activity books for children, from contemporary stories to classics such as The Princess and the Pea, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Looking for the Eid Moon and The Ramadan Drummer. Learn more about getting a book review …
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