Though Muslims pride themselves on the non-commercialization of Eid, many Muslim children approach the Islamic holiday as a chance to stock up on the latest toys, forgetting that most children have little more than nothing with which to celebrate.
Asma Mobin-Uddin’s new children’s book, "The Best Eid Ever," is a gentle reminder that what makes Eid special is not the new clothes and toys, but giving from what you have for the sake of Allah.
In the beautifully illustrated book, little Aneesa has to spend Eid ul-Adha without her parents, who are in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Her Nonni, or maternal grandmother, tries to make Eid special for Aneesa by surprising her with three new outfits from Pakistan and cooking her favorite dinner, lamb korma.
At Eid prayer, Aneesa notices two young refugee girls wearing torn and ragged clothing. The girls tell Aneesa that their father could not afford to miss work even on Eid, and that they escaped their war-ravaged country for safety in America.
Aneesa cannot shake the image of the girls as she returns home with Nonni.
After discussing the situation with her grandmother, Aneesa decides to make the girls’ Eid special by giving them two of her new outfits and the entire pot of lamb korma, in addition to candy and other treats.
Nonni and Aneesa end up ordering pizza for dinner, but both agree that this was their best Eid ever.
Mobin-Uddin, an active member of the Ohio Muslim American community, fills an obvious lack of quality Islamic children’s literature with this book and with her previous book, "My Name is Bilal," which won the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People.
However, this book is not only a valuable part of a Muslim child’s library; it is a significant instrument to encourage positive discussions about Islam in classrooms across America.
At the end of the book, the author provides descriptions of Hajj, Eid, and the story of Hajar and Ismail, as well as a glossary of non-English words and phrases.
And, of course, people of all ages respond better to colorful pictures and a simple tale than a dense textbook chapter on world religions.
"The Best Eid Ever" is a delightful story that is worth sharing with the children in your life on both Islamic holidays and any time of year.
In fact, you might be surprised how much you enjoy the book as well!
