Zaman, Farida. Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan. Owl Kids, 2023. 978-1-771-47564-8 Unpaged. $18.95. Grades K-3.

Aliya knows Ramadan is approaching and she wants to fast like her parents do. Her ammi tells her she is too young to fast because she still needs food to grow. But Aliya decides to secretly fast to be a part of the holiday; “I can fast! I know I can!” After eating as much as she can before sunrise at Sahoor with her parents, Aliya prays with her parents and feels that her scarf from Nani “hugs her secret even closer.” Aliya goes to school and skips lunch–and later a birthday cupcake with sprinkles–all by saying “I don’t feel like it” which later leaves her “hungry and miserable.” That night while baking baklava with her ammi, Aliya can’t resist and takes a bite, then cries, “Oh nooo! I ate–and I wasn’t supposed to!” Her ammi doesn’t scold, but gets Aliya some food and explains that acts of kindness are another important part of Ramadan. In the following weeks, Aliya and her family prepare food to package for people in need. Later, Aliya invites two friends to Iftar dinner (the meal at sundown to break the daily fast) and realizes that it’s nearly the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, the celebration of breaking the fast. An Author’s note explains the Muslim traditions as well as Zaman’s wish, as a little girl like Aliya, to fast like her parents. A glossary defines several words used in the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a positively drawn and told tale helping young people to understand the idea of fasting for Ramadan.

Picture Book