The White Nights of Ramadan [Hardcover]

Maha Addasi (Author), Ned Gannon (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Mid-Ramadan is a special time. Noor lives in a country near the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. She's looking forward to the festival known as Girgian that comes in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan. These middle days are known as "the three whites," because they include the day of the full moon, the day before, and the day after. It's a time when children, dressed in traditional clothes, go from house to house collecting treats from their neighbors. When Noor sees the full moon rising, signaling the coming of Girgian, she and her brothers prepare for the fun. Together, they decorate the bags they'll carry to collect the candies. But along with the fun, Noor remembers the true meaning of Ramadan: spending time with family and sharing with those less fortunate.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—This story is centered around Girgian, a Muslim celebration observed mostly in the Arabian Gulf states during the middle of the month of Ramadan. When Noor, who lives in Kuwait, sees the almost-full moon rise, she knows it's time to prepare for the festival. The family makes candy from honey, sugar, and nuts to share with the children in the neighborhood, wrapping it with cellophane and colorful bows. Then the siblings decorate canvas bags with bright colors, hoping to fill them with treats on the following evening. Noor spends the next day reading the Koran and praying while she fasts but wishes the time would go more quickly. Finally, the sun sets, and the streets are filled with youngsters singing, carrying fanouses (Ramadan lanterns), and knocking on doors to collect candy. Afterward, Noor and her grandfather deliver a food basket for the poor to the mosque. The story underlines the gift of sharing during a month dedicated to self-improvement and community welfare. Shimmering with moonlit hues, the attractive illustrations are done in a style that reflects one of many Muslim cultures. A helpful author's note and glossary are appended. An excellent choice for units on diversity and multiculturalism.—Fawzia Gilani-Williams, Oberlin Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr; Library Binding edition (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590785231
• ISBN-13: 978-1590785232
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Islam

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This book and its illustrations convey the excitement of the Girgian festival during Ramadan!, June 13, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The White Nights of Ramadan (Hardcover)

Noor's face was lit with excitement as she peered out the window at the moon. "It's almost time," she said to herself just before she ran to tell her brothers Sam and Dan. The moon was almost full and Girgian was almost upon them. The boys gave each other a high five and started yelling about all the candy they would get at the Girgian festival. Sam pretended to be a musaher. Bang, bang! The musaher beat his drum every morning during Ramadan to make sure people would wake up for the suhoor meal just before dawn. If they were lucky, he would even leave him a gift. Noor was old enough to fast, but her brothers were still too young.

Noor reminded them that they still needed to make the candy. Everyone in the family worked on this special project. Noor, grandmother, grandfather, her mother and father made the candy. Once it was done they all wrapped it up and tied "colorful ribbons around each cluster." This was something the boys could help with. Next Noor and her brothers had to decorate their own bags so they could collect some candy the following evening after iftar. She told them, "Beautiful bags mean more candy!" Soon it would be time to get on her beautiful dress, the one she would wear on Girgian. Ramadan was great fun, but her grandmother reminded her "that the true meaning of Ramadan is spending time with family and sharing with those less fortunate." She would hardly be able to sleep just thinking about the coming excitement!

This is a beautiful and very special glimpse of Ramadan from a young woman's point of view. The impressive illustrations and the text convey the excitement of the Girgian festival. This book is the perfect choice to introduce another culture to children or for Muslim children to celebrate and rejoice in their own religious holiday season. This would be a wonderful read aloud and discuss book in any homeschool or classroom setting!

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely and Beautiful, November 10, 2008

By 

S.E.S (Kalamazoo, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The White Nights of Ramadan (Hardcover)

Although a children book; parents, teachers and adults will be captivated by this book. The customs of the Arabian Gulf region during the fasting month of ramadan is beautifully narrated and illustrated. Cultures across the globe will connect to the story telling. So timely and essential.

5.0 out of 5 stars Critique, November 4, 2008

By 

Judi G (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The White Nights of Ramadan (Hardcover)

Though not a Moslem, I think it is important that we understand other cultures. I especially liked the illustrations for this book-in my opinion (biased as it may be), they "made" the book. I appreciated the colors and lighting effects, as well as the images themselves. I hope this artist does more books in the future!