The White Nights of Ramadan

 

Written by Maha Adddasi

Illustrated by Ned Gannon

Boyds Mills, 2008

25 pages

Multi- Cultrual

      Well, this was a very interesting book. I must admit that I didn't see myself liking it, but as the old saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover!" I didn't think that I would relate with the characters in the story, but I did!. The custom that they observe in the book is called Girgian, and it is a celebration much like Halloween, but it is religious based.

  

      The main character is a little girl about the age of 12 named Noor and she lives with her family in the Arabian Persian Gulf. Noor has two younger brothers, and they are all excited about the coming of Girgian. Girgian takes place in the middle of the ninth month when the moon is full. This is known as Ramadan. For three nights, children dress up in fancy clothes and go door to door for candy and prizes. At the beginning of the story, Noor and her brothers prepare for the celebration. Noor fasts with her family. They eat one meal a day at sunrise during Ramadan. Muslims believe that by fasting, it brings them closer to equal footing with those who are less fortunate. At the end of the story, Noor and her Grandfather walk to the mosque to deliver the basket of food her mother had prepared for the homeless.

      The illustrations are done in oils. They are beautiful! The colors are very warm and cozy feeling. I believe the heart of a children's books is its pictures. You could just flip through this book and maybe guess the storyline!

      I would definitely use this as a social studies lesson and a vocabulary lesson in one! There is a fantastic glossary included in the back, and I was thankful for it! I was googling the terms until I found it back there! You could put this book out for a center and have students make personal connections to the characters and the story. It would also be great for introducing how to use a glossary and why they are important. You could read the book aloud and have them go "Huh?" at the words. Direct them to the glossary and have them use it in their centers. You could observe Ramadan, bot by fasting, but your classroom could put together a food and essentials basket for the needy.