By Carlene Murray
As a mother of three young children and an early childhood educator, I’m always looking for ways to help my charges learn about other cultures and traditions from around the world, as well as explore their own heritage. I’m fortunate to live in an area where my kids see faces of many colors everyday, and nothing warms my heart quite like seeing a group of children from different backgrounds bonding and playing together. But no matter where you live, reading a wide variety of books about different experiences can help your little ones grow up to be open-minded citizens who are accepting of others.
Ramadan is one of the most important times of year for Muslims, a holy month of fasting, prayer, and introspection that’s meant to help believers strengthen their faith, self-control, gratitude, and compassion for the less fortunate. Children are exempt from fasting, but they can engage in introspection and cultivate these same qualities through thoughtful shared reading, including sharing Ramadan books for kids. (Note that Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic year, which is slightly shorter than our Western calendar, meaning the event happens at a different time each year.)
For me, reading to my children about Muslim traditions is a way of teaching them part of their cultural heritage. But reading books that tell about different cultural celebrations is also one of my favorite ways to celebrate our society’s rainbow of diversity. Families from all religious backgrounds can enjoy the following Ramadan books for kids while gaining understanding of why this time of year is so important for Muslim families around the globe.
Please let us know in the comments or on social media about your favorite Ramadan books for kids!
