Author: Reem Faruqi

Illustrator: Lea Lyon

Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers

Last week a lot of people celebrated Ramadan. An important aspect of Ramadan is fasting. And in this book, Lailah, the protagonist, is excited because this is the first time she is able to join her parents in fasting. But when she gets to school Lailah isn’t sure her classmates and teacher will understand why she can’t eat lunch. She finally finds a confidant in the librarian who gently guides Laila to share the excitement and joy of Ramadan with everyone. The illustrations by Lea Lyon imbibe a fresh, magical feel into each spread. My son’s class recently celebrated Ramadan and my son just learned that fasting during Ramadan is a way to remember that there are people in the world who may not have access to regular meals as we do. This book, like, Ramadan, teaches kids and us all an important lesson in empathy.