Noura's Crescent Moon
By (Author) Zainab Khan
Illustrated by Nabila Adani
Candlewick Press,U.S.
Candlewick Press,U.S.
6th March 2024
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage social topics: Religious issues / debates
Hardback
32
Width 257mm, Height 295mm, Spine 9mm
513g
Venturing out after dusk with her family, a child is eager to watch for the new moon that signals the start of Eid ul-Fitr celebrations in this charming picture-book debut.
Noura cant wait for the sun to go down! With Ramadan and her first month of fasting almost over, she and Mama and Papa are headed to the hills for a moonsighting picnic. It would be truly special if Noura could catch a glimpse of the faint silvery crescent, something even her mother has never managed to do. If the moon stays hidden, that means one more long day before Noura can wear her sparkly new dress and the joyful Eid celebrations beginbringing with them visits with friends, eating sweets, and painting henna on her hands. In a lighthearted introduction to Ramadan and Eid, this family-centered tale of anticipation under the stars pairs an inviting text from Zainab Khan with Nabila Adanis vibrant illustrations, capturing everything from the bustle of a shared meal to the swirling magic of the night sky. Relevant terms, from food items to the Islamic lunar calendar, are explained in a glossary at the end.
Zainab Khan received her BA from Boston University and taught elementary school for several years before starting her own preschool program. Nouras Crescent Moon is her first picture book. Through it she hopes that children will learn a little something about the Islamic lunar month Eid ul-Fitr and Ramadan and recognize that regardless of their faith, people celebrate in similar ways: with family, food, and gifts, and with prayers for those who are religious. Of Pakistani heritage, Zainab Khan lives on Long Island with her husband, two children, and a cat.
Nabila Adani worked briefly as a product designer in Japan and Indonesia before moving to the United States to study childrens book illustration. Among the childrens books she has illustrated are Be a Bridge by Irene Latham and Charles Waters and Sunny and the Birds by Wendy Meddour. Nabila Adani lives in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she enjoys illustrating and telling stories for children around the world.