Once Upon an Eid is collection of 15 short stories by different Muslim voices all with the theme of Eid.
Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices
The Stories and Authors
- Perfect by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
- Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed
- Kareem Means ‘Generous’ by Asmaa Hussein
- Don’ut Break Tradition by S.K.Ali
- Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery
- Gifts by Rukhsana Khan
- The Feast of Sacrifice by Hena
- Seraj Captures the Moon by G.Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh
- Searching for Blue by N.H.Senzai
- Creative Fixes by Ashlet Franklin
- Taste by Hanna Alkaf
- Eid Pictures by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
- Not Only an Only – Huda Al-Marashi
- Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattue
- Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha’Allah by Randa Abdel- Fattah
What did we think of Once Upon An Eid?
Now I am not going to reveal too much about each story but if you are looking for a book with a variety of authors, styles of writing (including poetry and comic style), and full of diversity, then this is the book for you. Each story is related to Eid in some way…some more closely related than others but it was great to see in some stories the different cultures and how they celebrate Eid with their own traditions. Most of the stories have a moral behind them, for example in one story the character is shown that ‘Anytime you share something you love, it comes right back at you’. In addition to this one story does touch on Sunni and Shia sects and how Shia’s can be stereotyped against that they are radical. It is a heavy topic but a brief mention.
There are some illustrations within in the book which break up each story. These are kept as black and white but they are still eye catching and compliment the book.
The book is great to get a glimpse into other cultures and how others do celebrate, even in difficult times. It is also perfect for non-muslims to read and understand how we celebrate.
To get a further look into the book and learn more of my thoughts then do watch my IGTV.
The book is recommended for ages 8-12 and is available as paperback or hardback. You can find it in local good book shops or Amazon. (affiliate link).
If you are looking for more Eid related books then you may be interested in my post: 5 Children’s Books for Eid.