A Curated Ramadan and Eid Book List for New Babies

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Sumia Shaikh is a proud Muslimah, marketer, and mama to a 13-month-old daughter.

Assalamu alaikum! Growing up in Connecticut in the ‘90s, my parents had a hard time finding children's books that would help me connect with my culture and religion. Fast forward to some twenty years later, I now understand the challenges of raising a little one while trying to make sure she has ample opportunities to see the representation of her family’s religion and culture in books, movies, and songs. 

Lucky for us, we have the internet now and folks who self-publish.

Ramadan is a holy month and is celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world. It is an opportunity for spiritual reflection, community building, and strengthening our faith. But for new moms, it can also be a time of adjustment, exhaustion, and isolation. In between balancing work and/or childcare, we also are navigating fasting (or not due to breastfeeding), growth spurts, finding time to connect with the Quran, teething, and trying for the sixth time to “sleep train.”

Now while I don’t have any catch-all solution to finding the balance between all of the above. I know that bedtime can be tough in between late iftar times and prayer.

Thankfully, I have great friends (Muslim and non-Muslim) who have gifted or recommended books to introduce our Islamic values and traditions to our little ones. I’ve seen some great lists so far, but not many focus on babies and young toddlers (under two). Here’s a list of some Islamic books for babies that are great for Ramadan/Eid: 

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• "Baby's First Ramadan" by DK: The pictures in this book are representative of how Muslims look and I love the photos! The book is clear and easy for babies to follow. The hardcover book fits perfectly in my one-year-old’s tiny little hands. 

• "Baby Touch Happy Eid" by Ladybird: I just sent this to a friend who has twins under 6 months! I think that this book and this High Contrast book would be a perfect gift. 

• “5 Pillars of Islam, Touch, and Feel, Lift-the-Flap, Sensory Board Book, Mirror" by Saba Dadabhoy: this book is aesthetic and age-appropriate. I love this for my little one and it’s a great gift as the packaging was nicely done! 
• “Our Beloved Prophet (S): A Lift-a-flap board book” by Farrah Hossain: I found a mom-fluencer share this on Instagram and had to add to cart. This lift-a-flap book shares some of the favorite things of the Prophet Muhammad through the lens of Sofia and Zain. It was cute and relatable – my little one likes watermelon and dates too.

• "Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors" by Hena Khan and Mehrdokht Amini: I’m very excited for this book to help teach my little one the colors and shapes of Muslim art and architecture. It's a cute book and a great way to teach children about the beauty of Islamic culture. She’s too young now to fully understand it, but I think she is interested by the illustrations.

• "It's Ramadan, Curious George" by Hena Khan: Ok, it’s not really for under two, but I love this book! I gave this book to my niece and nephew two years ago; they loved it so much that they were upset when a page accidentally ripped so I grabbed them another one. I love how this book features the beloved Curious George and his adventures during Ramadan. It's a fun and engaging way to introduce young children to the traditions of this special month.

By sharing these books with our little ones, we can instill in them a sense of pride in their Muslim identity. I hope that we are blessed all with a fruitful and rewarding Ramadan.

Ramadan Kareem, fam!

^{Guest writer Sumia Shaikh is a proud Muslimah, marketer, and mama to a 13-month-old daughter. As the Brand and Marketing Lead at Visible Hands, a venture capital firm supporting underrepresented founders, Sumia advises Digital Health, Caregiving, and Wellness companies while managing a marketing team. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, mentoring startups and student entrepreneurs, and practicing yoga and pilates to maintain a healthy work-life balance.}