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In this gorgeous story about anticipation, celebration and tradition, a young girl called Maymoona – self-proclaimed future astronaut – cleverly finds a way to be the first to see the crescent moon in the sky, and to announce that Eid has begun!
Eid-al-Fitr is a joyous time of year for Muslims, and marks the end to Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, praying and deep spirituality – so the build-up to Eid is exciting and exuberant. Families come together to celebrate with delicious feasts and gifts, but sighting the crescent moon is the first sign that Eid can begin.
This beautiful picture book is perfect for readers aged 2 years and up, as well as anyone who's ever looked up into the evening sky and delighted in the moon.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 1, 2024 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781761441059
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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December 2, 2024
In the lead-up to Eid, aspiring young astronaut Maymoona takes on the task of spotting the new moon that marks the holiday: “Leave the moon-sighting to me,” she shouts. The child “observes, gazes, and calculates,” and determines that she needs a high perch for the job. With the help of a “Cosmic Compass,” “Galactic Goggles,” and “Lunar Ladder”—and the encouragement of family and friends—she situates herself on a sturdy branch of the garden’s tallest tree, where, after waiting and watching, and even offering encouragement (“Please come out soon, moon”), she takes a picture of the thin crescent and kicks off the holiday’s celebrations. Omar Gutta’s ardent text and Haleem’s simple, limited-palette art delineate a variety of Eid practices (“Lanterns glow. Eid songs fill the air”) while sharing one child’s passion-fueled involvement in the holiday. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An endnote offers further context. Ages 3–8. -
January 10, 2025
PreS-Gr 3-Maymoona plans to be an astronaut when she grows up. Thus, the job of spotting the crescent moon, the signal that Ramadan has ended and Eid has begun, is the perfect task for her. With the logic and planning of a child, Maymoona charts her course, gathers supplies and safety gear, and finds the best high spot for moon sighting. Amid family support and encouragement, Maymoona climbs a backyard tree and waits for the clouds to reveal the moon. She uses a presumably toy camera to capture the moment, and the celebration begins. The gorgeous artwork by Haleem is characteristic of her soft, artistic style and uses slightly muted colors. Characters are mostly light-skinned, and the women wear hijab and long dresses. An end note explains the importance of seeing the crescent moon; for those unfamiliar with Muslim traditions, this would be a good first stop to explain Maymoona's excitement. There is not a pronunciation key for the Arabic words included in the text. VERDICT A sweet purchase for libraries to boost Muslim picture book collections.-Sarah Sieg
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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