Non-Fiction

__**Educating on the Unknown Holiday, Ramadan**__ __**Lauren Barber**__

Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar year (Hill, 2009). The time that Ramadan falls each year is slightly different because it is based on the lunar calendar (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). It actually moves forward by eleven days each year because the lunar calendar is eleven days shorter then the Gregorian calendar, which is used in most parts of the world including the United States (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). Now the question is why do you need to know this? How is Ramadan and when it falls relevant to a teacher in the United States? Well, it is a holiday that is observed by many Americans who practice the Islamic faith, and a large percent of the United States doesn’t know about it! I am a prime example of this. I grew up in a middle class 95% white community, and would have never known a thing about it If I had not have encountered someone that participated in Ramadan while in high school. My swim coach, and assistant principal during high school identified with the Islamic faith. All four years that I saw Ramadan fell during the fall, so during our season, so he would participate in the fast during that time. Even though I saw him participating in this annual ritual for four years, I never knew the background of the holiday or how it tied to his beliefs. It was just “ Yep, Ramadan starts next week, Darin starts fasting and gets kind of tired and extra crabby for the next month. Oh, Good!” I mean I probably could have asked him about it, but, like most high school teens, it never crossed my mind because it had nothing to do with my life or me. For this is one of the reasons that I feel that we need to educate students on the holiday of Ramadan. It is something that is happening around them, not just over seas in a foreign land. Another reason is that we talk about Jewish and Christian traditions in schools such as Hanukkah and Christmas. If we are talking about these holidays I feel that the Muslim faith deserves to have their traditions shared as well. Learning about all cultural traditions broadens horizons in my perspective, and allows us to gain awareness of those around us. For future reference when I refer to students, I am referring to the populations of Kindergarten through fifth grade. Here are some quick facts for you to acquaint yourself with the background of Ramadan: · During Ramadan Muslims fast from food, drink (including water), smoking, and marital sex during the hours of daylight (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). Muslims feel that by fasting they are learning self-control and are becoming closer to Allah (God) (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). Ramadan in addition to purification by fasting is a time of intense worship, reading the Qu’ran (holy book), and giving charity by doing good deeds (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). · Ramadan is considered to be the third pillar or religious obligation of Islam (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). Islam has five pillars of faith, which include: o Shanhadan, The belief in only one god, Allah. o Salai, Daily prayer o Sawh, self purification through fasting o Zakat, the concern for and giving to the less fortunate o Haij, making the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if financially capable (Zahid, n.d.). · The meal before fasting is called Suhoor and the post-fast meal is called Iftar, it is a common practice during Iftar to eat dates (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). · During Ramadan at night Muslims participate in a special prayer time called Tarawih (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). This prayer takes place at the Masjid (mosque), which is their site of community worship. (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). During this prayer time approximately 1/30th of the Qu’ran is read. Over the course of Ramadan the whole Qu’ran is read (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). The last ten days of Ramadan have a special spiritual power to those who participate. The 27th night of Ramadan is called Lailat ul-Qadr, the Night of Power. This is night is the night in which the first verses of the Qu’ran were revealed to the prophet, so many pray through the entire night in remembrance (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). · The end of Ramadan is marked by a celebration called Eid al-Fitur, which means festival of breaking the fast (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). During this celebration gifts are given, participants dress in new clothes, and gather together to celebrate the end of the fast by eating and praying (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). When teaching about the holiday of Ramadan, I feel that a selection of books that are both non-fiction and fiction can help students understand the topic to their greatest potential. The books that I selected were a mix of different styles including informational and stories. This allows the students to absorb the information in both a “ here is the fact” type way and through creative writing form which is found in stories. The books that I selected to review also had a mixture of both drawn illustrations and photographs so that the students can see both types of images relating to the holiday. I feel that photographs can provide a “ this is actually what it looks like” type feeling and add to the factual feeling that many non-fiction books give. Where illustrations give a great feeling and add an artistic touch to the reading experience of a story.

Ramadan Islamic Holy Month By: Terry Sievert Bright colorful photographs make this a wonderful non-fiction book if you are teaching to young children. Kindergarten through second grade would be the appropriate audience for this book. This book provides the basics about Ramadan for children by breaking it down into sub categories including “ What is Ramadan”, Watching for Ramadan”, “ The Fast”, and “A Time for Faith”. The photographs in the book depict very well for the reader what the text is saying. This I feel is important for young readers who are either being read to or are just learning to read on their own. It provides them with an image of what the text is talking about, and can add detail. The book covers all of the main aspects of the holiday. It talks about fasting, when the month of Ramadan begins, and how it is determined. The celebration that occurs at the end of Ramadan and how it is connecting to the faith of Islam is also discussed. The book introduces students to some basic Arabic terms relating to the holiday, which in my eyes gives the book an extra boost, as it provides the actual names for things such as Eid al- Filtur, the celebration of the end of Ramadan (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). It was helpful that they provide the definition and pronunciation for the Arabic terms as well. This allows the children to get a full understanding of the word. This introduces the reader to Ramadan at a slightly watered down level, but, in my eyes this is expected from a book that is 20 pages long with half the pages being photographs and is aimed at early elementary school aged students. This book also did well helping students make a connection between Ramadan and their lives. I feel that when reading non-fiction books about cultures children have a hard time understanding without somehow relating to themselves. At the end of this book it gives an account of a NBA basketball star named Hakeem Olajuwon who participates in Ramadan, and played in a NBA game while fasting. Overall I feel that this book provides valid information in an easy form for young students about the topic of Ramadan. In judging that it provides valid information, I am referring to the background of Ramadan that I provided to you at the beginning of this article. The book covered all of the main facts of Ramadan in which are essential to understanding the holiday on a young child’s level.

Celebrate Ramadan By: Laura S. Jeffrey This non-fiction book provides a very accurate and sound look at the topic of Ramadan. The book contains great photographs to enhance the reader’s understanding of Ramadan. The photographs provide depth to the text and even have captions. I felt as I read the book that the captions provide me with the information I was wondering about the photos. Such as what kind of food they eat during Suhoor. This book would be appropriate for upper elementary or early middle school. It is set up in chapter book style and provides a hefty amount of information on the holiday, but provides it in language that students in this age range would still understand. This book is very similar to the Terry Sievert book that I reviewed above, but, this book goes much more in depth about topics and covers a few additional topics. It provides information on all topics of Ramadan from “fasting and prayer” to the “Night of Power”. The book also provides a chapter on the background of Islam and their beliefs which is something that the other books did not really touch on but, I think provides the reader with an even better understanding of the holiday. This book provides great information about the holiday of Ramadan and everything that is in connection with the holiday. It touches on every topic that I found in my research and mentioned as a quick fact that should be known about Ramadan. In my eyes this would be a great book to use in a lesson if you need an informational book about Ramadan.

A Party in Ramadan By: Asma Mobin-Uddin Illustrated by: Laura Jacobsen As the main character of the book, Leena, participates in a day of fasting during Ramadan with her aunt and mother. She addresses many questions that students and teachers have about Ramadan in a young American’s life. How does Ramadan fit into the life of an American child? How does it fit into a community where not everyone is Muslim? Can you still attend events where others are not fasting, during Ramadan? In the story Leena, gets invited to a birthday party the same day that she is planning on fasting. She wonders if she should go to the party. Leena decides that she is going to still fast, and go to the party with her friends. While at the party she encounters the feelings of being thirsty after playing with the other girls, but remembers that she cannot drink because of her fasting. She separates herself while the other girls are drinking lemonade and decides this something that she is going to ask for when her fast is over. She also separates herself when the other girls are eating cake. While they are eating cake she struggles with her hunger, and wonders why God makes it so hard. In response to this she takes a nap and feels much better after. When she gets home from the party Leena and her mom prepare food for the ending of the fast. When the fast ends, after sunset, Leena says a prayer and ends her fast by eating a date. After dinner her mom gives her a pudding cup as a reward for doing so well with fasting. Leena’s sister is very jealous of her pudding cup and wants one too, though there is only one so Leena ends up sharing it with her sister, as Leena knows her sister wants it very badly. At the end of the book Leena’s friend that she went to the birthday party for and her family come over to share the cake from earlier and they all celebrate together. During the story the reader is given a little bit of general information about Ramadan, but I feel this story more shares a first hand account of Ramadan from a small child. The basics of fasting, prayer and giving to others are mentioned but not focused on. The reader see how those who fast tend to be tired, but that it is apart of the experience and sacrifice for the month. The reader also sees at the end of the book the eating of a common Iftar food, dates (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). When she is eating the pudding after her fast Leena participates in the act of giving to others when she gives her pudding to her sister. Giving to others is a very large part of the mentality during Ramadan (“Ramadan, the month of fasting”, n.d). I feel that this book gives a great look into what a child sees and feels while participating in Ramadan on a small scale. “According to literary researchers, students need to make multiple connects to the text being studied…need to be able to connect text to self in order to promote ‘ greater meaning’ of the text” (Glazier, 2005). This book in my eyes allows children to connect Ramadan to activities that they participate in, such as attending a friend’s birthday party. As a piece of literature I feel that this book is very strong. It shares the viewpoint of a young child in Ramadan with facts about the holiday that are factually sound. The illustrations in the book are gorgeous and add quality to the text. All of the pictures are drawn in pastel pencils. The colors that are used in the pictures are very warm and inviting. There are a lot of yellows, salmons, and greens. By the books illustrations being done in these colors they convey a calmness rather then rigidity and structure. I think that the pictures help invite the reader into reading about new ideas. As I mentioned before Ramadan is not a holiday that many people have knowledge on in the United States and I feel that if the pictures were rigid and in dark colors, it would be invite the reader to learn about new topics. I feel this book does a good job of telling the story of a young girl that is participating in Ramadan and sparks the interest of the reader in what is going to happen when she goes to the party while fasting, and how it will effect her. I feel that the way that the author wrote the book flowed very well and was well written. After reading the book I felt that I had learned something valuable about how it feels to be fasting around people who are eating and the thoughts and feelings that young Muslims experience during Ramadan. I felt that this book would be able to capture the hearts of young readers and keep them interested as they read. The book also uses vocabulary that elementary students would surely be able to handle and over all was a well-written book with wonderful illustrations to go along with it.

Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle By: Reza Jalali Illustrated by: Anne Sibley O’Brien Of all of the books I am reviewing this one I felt was the best, and provided an abundance of great information for teaching students about the holiday of Ramadan. In the story the main character named Shirin is a young girl who is experiencing Ramadan with her family. In the beginning of the book Shirin and her father talk about how the beginning of Ramadan is marked by the first crescent moon in the 9th month of the lunar calendar. Through out the book Shirin wants to participate in the fasting of Ramadan, but her parents say that she is too young. Her parents tell her that she can participate in Ramadan in other ways including praying daily and helping others. Which she does. She prays with both her mother and her father during their daily prayers, and helps with her family pets. As she continues to want to fast her parents identify and reassure her that both of these things are very important during the month of Ramadan. Shirin is still unsatisfied with the fact that her parents will not let her participate in the fasting. Halfway through the book Shirin’s parents agree to allow her to fast for two meals a day. As Shirin talks to family and learns more about Ramadan she learns about how different countries have different customs when it comes to Ramadan and their beliefs about Islam in general. She asks her mom about the Hijab that her female family members wear who live in other countries but that she doesn’t. She learns that not every Muslim woman covers her hair, that some choose not to and many cultures that don’t require this, but, that for many it is common. I felt that this was a good lesson for students because with any holiday or custom there are always variations. I felt that it also addressed something that many children wonder about the Islamic faith, the Hijab, which is the headdress some women wear, which is something that doesn’t only connect with Ramadan specifically but the Islamic faith in general. This book also shows how much through Ramadan and the Islamic faith that family is valued and treasured ((“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). In the book Shirin and her family eat dinner, pray, and celebrate the end of Ramadan together. This showing how much Shirin and her family care for each other and find family interaction important. At the end of the book Shirin and her family prepare for Eid ul-Fitr, the festival celebrating the end of Ramadan (“Fact Sheet for teachers”, n.d.). During this we see the exchanging of gifts, and Shirin and her mom creating henna tattoos. These things are both common activities during this celebration, and thus show the readers great examples of Eid ul-Fitr activities. Overall this book provided sound information on the holiday of Ramadan. The material that was discussed in this story was all information was I mentioned in the brief history for you of Ramadan to me this means that it is a good source because it is providing sound information that matched if the research that I found on the topic. From a literary standpoint this book I felt was very good. Both the writing and the illustrations were strong in providing information to the reader about the holiday of Ramadan. The pictures add to the value of the book and helped convey what was going on in the story. They are painted in watercolors and incorporate a lot of color into the story. The pictures are very deep and make each page very rich. The illustrations in themselves tell a story and can give insight in to the holiday of Ramadan and the culture of those who participate. The pictures are soft. There are not harsh lines or rigidity. The book is also very well written in my point of view. The language is on a level that children in elementary school could understand it, and the story does what I believe it is supposed to. It tells the audience a story of a girl during Ramadan. Through the text you can understand what is going on and the emotions that the main character was feeling. The book I felt was well put together and made me feel good as I read it.

The White Nights of Ramadan By: Maha Addasi This book tells the story of a young girl named Noor in a country near the Persian Gulf. She is preparing and getting excited for the holiday of Girgian, which is a holiday celebrated in the middle of Ramadan and is similar to Halloween. During this holiday the children get dressed up in their best clothes and go door to door collecting treats (Girgian is not part of Islam,2010). Through out the book Noor and her two younger brothers prepare for the holiday by making treats with their mom to give out, making bags to go out with, and picking out their best clothes. During the book Noor participates in daily prayer and reads her qu’ran. She also talks with her grandmother about Ramadan and how spending time with family and giving to others are important parts of Ramadan. She also participates in the iftar meal with her family when they break the fast for the day. At the end of the book Noor and her brothers go out fior Girgian, and collect treats and then after Noor goes to the mosque with her grandfather to deliver their contribution to the less fortunate. This book would not be one that I would use in a lesson on Ramadan or anything relating to the Islamic faith. First off I want to point out that this book is considered non-fiction, which it is, but does not provide very good information. The holiday of Girgian is not a holiday that all countries that celebrate Ramadan participate in (Girgian is not part of Islam, 2010). It is a holiday that is only recognized by a few Gulf countries, particularly in Kuwait (Girgian is not part of Islam, 2010). When I tried to find research on the holiday there was very little information, which to me makes it seem like it is something that is not widely acknowledged and is not something that I want to share with my students because it is not a true part of the holiday for what seems to be the majority. I was also disappointed with this book because it used terminology that I could not find a definition for outside the book. The book used the word Musaher, and gave a definition of it in the glossary at the end of the book; though I could not find anything about it when I searched online. Which made me kind of leery about it. Also the spelling of some of the terms used in the book was not authentic and so I don’t find it appropriate to be teaching with. In the book it talked about the Qu’ran, though they spelled it Koran. This is the American spelling of the word, which is how you pronouce the word and not totally wrong, but, all of the other texts spelled it Qu’ran, and that is the way that all of my research did as well so that is the spelling that I feel is politically and culturally correct. Though the book has all of these flaws, it is not entirely bad in content. It does mention the some of the roots for Ramadan of spending time with family, giving to others, and praying. Which are all things that are important to know about Ramadan. Though even as it mentions these things it has all of the elements that I feel makes it negative, so I would not be able to use it in my classroom. Anything that I am using in my classroom needs to be correct and represent cultures correctly. We can’t provide our students with literature that does not give one hundred percent correct information. As talked about in the article “ Assessing Children’s Literature” if students are presented with bias information repeatedly they are in danger of those distortion being apart of their thinking. I think that it is the same with false information or selectively correct information such as this book. If students are presented with information that is not true for all of the countries that participate in Ramadan they are going to believe that it is a true fact for all those who participate. If we were to look at the book on a literary elements level it would pass with flying colors. The illustrations, which were done in oils, were gorgeous and are a very strong addition to the text. The pictures in this book, I actually feel did more then the text. The pictures did describe everything that the book was talking about and gave very through images. The story in the book was also very appealing. As I read the book I liked the story other then that I knew it wasn’t accurately portraying Ramadan. Though I feel like these things don’t matter because the content is not correct. As I said before you can’t use a book that doesn’t share correct information. I believe that students need to learn about Ramadan so that they can be knowledgeable about a holiday that is a large part of the Islamic faith. By educating students about Ramadan we are creating a more culturally aware student population. Which is something that is needed as the population of the United States is so culturally diverse. Even if there is not a student currently in your classroom that observes this holiday it teaches about another culture, and what can that hurt? I think that there is nothing worse then ignorance, and if we don’t teach about it then that is all we are creating.

[]
 * Resources for Teachers: **

[]

[]

[]

[]

// Work Cited // // Addasi, M. (2008). //The white nights of ramadan//. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Miller Press.//

// Assessing children's literature. (2003, October 23). //New york state association for the education of young children reporter//.//

// Fact Sheet for teachers. (n.d.). In //Sound Vision.com Islamic information and products//. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from http://www.soundvision.com/info/ramadan/r.school.asp //

// Girgian is not part of Islam. (2010, August 4). In //Islam//. Retrieved February 21, 2011, from []//

// Glazier, J., & Seo, J. (2005, May). Multicultural literature and discussion as mirror and window? //Journal of adolescent & adult Literacy//,// 48//(8).//

// Hill, M. (2009). Ramadan and public schools. In //Northern Humboldt consortium of schools//. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from []// // Jalali, R. (2010). //Moon watchers: shirin's ramadan miricle//. Gardiner, ME: Tilbury House Publishers.//

// Jeffrey, L. S. (2008). //Celebrate ramadan//. Berkley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers.//

// Morbin-Uddin, A. (2009). //A party in ramadan//. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Miller Press.//

// Ramadan, the month of fasting. (n.d.). In //Islamic holidays and observances//. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/MSA/events/Ramadan.html// // Sievert, T. (2006). //Ramadan: Islamic holy month//. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.//

// Zahid, I. (n.d.). Five pillars of islam. In //Islam 101//. Retrieved February 19, 2011, from http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html