The White Nights of Ramadan

Maha Addasi Illustrated by Ned Gannon Hardcover From Booklist With joyful excitement, a young girl in Kuwait tells how her family celebrates Girgian, three days under the full moon in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan: the traditions; the special clothing, foods, and crafts; and the meaning of the holiday—“spending time with family and sharing with those less fortunate.” She reads the Qur’an and prays through the day, and she is now old enough to fast from sunrise to sunset with the grown-ups. With other children, she and her brothers go on their Girgian walk at night and collect candy; then they deliver food for the poor to the mosque. The handsome full-page oil paintings show the preparations in a warm home decorated with richly detailed carpets and wall hangings, as well as the shimmering costumes of the children as they walk along the moonlit streets. Addasi was raised in Kuwait, and her final note and glossary enrich the story. Grades K-3. --Hazel Rochman