Thank you to NetGalley and Amulet Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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I wanted to start this with a little preface: I'm not Muslim, so this review comes from the view of someone completely outside of Islam, its traditions and the experience of Eid. 

That being said, this book was the most beautiful introduction into a wonderful and important holiday in the Muslim calendar. The editor's notes were incredibly helpful for anyone who is unfamiliar with Eid. 

This is a children's book, so the stories are all fairly simple, making them easy to follow and understand. I can definitely see this book as a beautiful bedtime story for any child! Each story is about a different family celebrating Eid in their own way. There is a huge amount of diversity, with families ranging from Australia, New York and even a refugee camp on a Greek island. The stories have strong messages that are easy to understand.

This book is a wonderful insight into a beautiful holiday that people may not know much about. It is filled with stories brimming with overarching messages of kindness, family, celebration, generosity, thoughtfulness, patience and understanding. Each time I finished a story, I was left smiling at the general atmosphere of love and togetherness. The experiences of each family in the stories vary massively, but they are all connected through Eid and the central topics of family, food and friends. 

Each author has an individual voice, and they all felt like they belong. None seemed clunky or out of place like in some collections. I loved that they're all Own Voices authors, which made it feel authentic and like a snapshot of real people's lives.

Overall, I gave this book 5 stars as its simplicity was perfectly aimed at small children and it made me want to look up books from all of the contributing authors. Whilst this book is perfect for children, I also think it's a great feel-good collection for adults who want a short read!

This book is released on 5th May!

This was such a beautiful collection of short stories entering around Ramadan and eid mubarak. very diverse full of very different meanings/ experiences of Eid/Ramadan written by all the others and really enjoyed that all the characters were all so unique in all their own ways and I didnt fell that there were one of the same in other characters. 

some books were very happy and cheerful and some very sad but with hope swell which I loved the variations very much. learning more about the culture  was so interesting and all the dishes that get made throughout this anthology sounded so amazing and I needed to eat them right away.

Even though im not the target audience for this book, it was just so amazing and if your muslim or not I very recommend you to read this book and to get a insight into the culture and you definitely learn quite a lot.

I have enjoyed reading and learning more about Ramadan Eid through this series of short stories. I appreciate the variety of cultures and situations (a youth in a refugee camp, a new convert to Islam celebrating Ramadan and Eid for the first time, sick parents, moral obligations, American, Syrian, African, etc.) presented in each Eid episode. While some of the stories feel "after-school special"-ish, a majority of them are endearing, touching, smile and thought provoking. Great for students who are Muslim and those who are just learning about Islamic holidays.

There is something incredibly powerful about seeing yourself reflected in the books you read.  In North America, there is a lack of books featuring Muslim stories.  The books that are published tend to be non-fiction or have Muslim characters as the sidekick it the sad oppressed individual.  Amulet Books has seen a need, I’m sure pushed by some of North America’s most prominent children’s book authors S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed to publish a beautiful collection of stories all centered on the most holiest of Muslim holidays, Eid.  In comparative terms, Eid is similar to Christmas, a day of feasting and celebrating and presents and treats and thanks.  Edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, this compilation features 15 different stories by 15 different Muslim voices.  Illustrated by Sara Alfageeh, Once Upon an Eid is a joyful celebration of stories.

This collection of stories written by different Muslim authors features stories about Eid from multiple perspectives, rich and poor, male and female, refugee and recent convert to Islam.  There is a story in this collection for each and every Muslim to see themselves and their traditions reflected back to them.

For non-Muslims it's an incredible tool to learn more about such a beautiful holiday and celebration.  I don’t know about you but there are times when I am shy to ask questions, not wanting to offend or ask something insensitive.  Through reading these stories, I have a better understanding of how my neighbours and co-workers celebrate their traditions and holidays and feel confident now to wish them an Eid Mubarak when the time comes

I'm so glad I read this--I certainly came out of it having learned so much about Eid and why it's so important and for all the different reasons.  I think this anthology got stronger the more you read, and I loved that the themes and style matched with the age of each main character.  I also appreciated that there was a comic short story!  It certainly goes to show that the love of Eid transcends different types of media.

"Kareem Means 'Generous'" and "Don'ut Break Tradition" were my top two in this collection--I was so pleased to see the exploration of not only class relations but also how families feel as though they're crumbling when a medical tragedy strikes.  After all, how can you continue traditions when nothing seems right?  

Overall, this was so great, and I can imagine that it's so incredibly important for young folks to read.  So glad I read this!

This short story collection is wonderful! Muslim authors all telling stories about Eid. I wanted to read this book to see if it had the representation that would be appreciated the mulim students in our school. This book is that and more! I appreciated that the stories were fairly straight forward and could be read by younger students with no real issue. The explanations and various perspective around Eid made this an enjoyable read and for some of the stories I wanted to know more!

I cannot wait to share this book with my muslim students after purchasing it for our collection.

The publisher Abrams Kids, Amulet Books generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

As a kid this book would've made all the difference but I am so glad that this book exists and so many Muslim kids would be able to see themselves in these characters and will feel the same joy these characters felt.

I was so excited for this book and it didn't disappoint me at all. Because the book is middle grade, all of the stories are very straightforward and easy to understand. Each story brings something very unique to the whole book and I absolutely loved all of them.

Listen, I have read so many Christmas books given the fact that I don't even celebrate the holiday, it still never failed to bring joy and smile to my face. But reading about an occasion that is a part of who I am? reading about something that always brings joy to me was something else. Even though the characters in the book are way young but the excitement of Eid, the feeling of happiness and satisfaction was still there.

Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha are equally important to me as a muslim and this book made it possible for me to read about it as well and I am so emotional about it. We need more books like this.

E-ARC was provided to me by Netgalley and AbramsKids in exchange of an honest review.

I've never been a huge fan of short stories, but this book has me reconsidering such an arrogant approach, as every single story in this collection has me feeling the warmth of Eid, the joy of authenticity, and the beauty of being a part of a faith with such strong female writers.  Fifteen entries for middle graders in mind: short stories, poetry, and even a graphic novel, spread over 304 pages that shine light on Eid in today's world,  Eid al Fitr and Ramadan make up the bulk of the focus, but Eid al Adha and Hajj are in there too.  And the best part of the book is that you will see yourself in it, possibly all through out it, but reading such diverse OWN Voice stories are sure to make a Muslim reader feel represented and right at home, and give non Muslim's a peek at us from the inside, inshaAllah.  

SYNOPSIS:

I don't know how to review the book as a whole since there really are 15 different stories, that are each heartfelt and strong in their own right and yet somehow made better by the company around them.  There were no weak links.  There are stories with bickering siblings, annoying cousins, different cultures, mixed background familes, divorced families, converts' stories, stories of families where money is tight, stories with illness, stories of loss, a story from the perspective of a refugee, and stories of reaching out of your comfort zone.  There is one story about Eid al Adha and a story starring a Shi'a muslimah feeling different within Islam.  There are stories told from boys voices and girls voices and every single story has a take home message, some more subtle than others, but all there and all real.  I feel like even a summary of a story would prove a spoiler and take away from one just falling in to the collection and receiving the warm hug that awaits.   I'll leave the summaries to their titles and well known authors to spark your curiousity.

Perfect: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake:  Aisha Saeed

Kareem Means Generous: Asmaa Hussein

Don'ut Break Tradition: S.K. Ali

Just Like Chest Armor: Candice Montgomery

Gifts: Rukhsana Khan

The Feast of Sacrifice: Hena Khan

Seraj Captures the Moon: G. Willow Wilson and Sara Alfageeh

Searching for Blue: N.H. Senzai

Creative Fixes: Ashley Franklin

Taste: Hanna Alkaf

Eid Pictures: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Not Only an Only: Huda Al-Marashi

Maya Madinah Chooses Joy: Ayesha Mattu

Eid and Pink Bubble Gum, Insha'Allah: Randa Abdel-Fattah

WHY I LIKE IT:

I recieved this book as an Advanced Reader (digital) copy and I am thinking I want a hard copy too, (I wasn't able to view the artwork).  A lot of people ask me and I see postings in various social media groups asking for suggestions of books to read each night as a family in Ramadan, and I think this one would work for grades 3 and up.  Have each kid read the story throughout the day and then discuss in the evening.  Every story will have something that is familiar, probably something new, and each has a teachable moment.  I think different kids will identify with different aspects of the story and to articulate them in Ramadan will really bring the already memorable characters to life.

The book is very well done, and reads very smooth and cohesive, it really has a unified tempo and mood which is remarkable because so many different author's and voices are included.  The book stays focused on the feeling rather than getting too weighted down by doctrine.  There are stories that feature hijab prominantly, and a bit of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and some slight mention of islamaphobia, but it focuses on the friends and the love that support us, both Muslim and non, that make Eid and life hopeful.

FLAGS:

Clean

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

I would consider this as a book club book to be hosted just as I hope to do this Ramadan with my own children in my home (see above).  I think really I just want to buy a bunch of copies to give as gifts to the fabulous elementary aged children I know, alhumdulillah.

I absolutely loved this book. It was fun, it was fluffy, it was heartwarming, it was educational and it was just an all around great read. Really it was a breath of fresh air. Each middle-grade story brings something fresh and new to my understanding of Eid, two very important Muslim holidays. One Eid signifies the end of Ramadan and the other is the 10th day of the month of Hajj. Want to know how I know this? The editors S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed included an editor’s introduction in the beginning of the book that explains the significance of Eid and helps us to know what to expect in the 15 stories that follow the introduction. All fifteen stories express a different type of joy and understanding of the holiday and its significance an honestly it was just beautiful to read.

Each story focused on a different family, a different person, and a different situation. There are different Muslim identities and experiences expressed in each short story which just adds to the beauty and diversity between these pages. Overall this really felt like a lighthearted read and I sped right on through it. None of the stories are very long, but so much is communicated within the few pages that they each have. I don’t want to spoil any of the stories, but I’ll give you a little info on my favorite stories:

A little brother is excited to continue his family’s dessert tradition and upset that his sister wants to change things, but he learns that maybe change only brings new tradition

A boy saves all of Ramadan to buy himself a new bike, but he meets a new community member who teaches him the value of generosity

The sole Muslim girl in a small community has always loved being the leading authority on Islam in her school, but learns that having support and backup of a new friend may be even better

Wearing hijab in public is this young girl’s dream, but her parents are worried that it may be too much for her to handle. She determined to take on this new profession of her faith, but could her parents be right?

These four stories may have been my favorite, but I loved each and every one of them. Please please PLEASE go pick up this middle-grade short story anthology when it’s released on May 5th. You won’t regret it.

This is an incredibly special book. It's an anthology of 15 stories, written by different authors, that focus on experiences surrounding Eid. I know I'm not the target audience, but I learned so much from these different perspectives, and truly appreciate a glimpse into celebrations about which I knew very little. I will definitely purchase the book for my library when it is released in May 2020, and I look forward to seeing the final copy with illustrations. A must read for middle grade lovers, and a vital book to have as part of our collections for young people.

I loved this. 

I'm not usually a fan of short stories but I feel like a lot of these had a nice resolve. 

I would've liked to have known more about the characters and I enjoyed the writing style so it was a good introduction to a few authors I hadn't read from before.

Once upon an Eid is an anthology of stories about Muslim holidays that are filled with joy, happiness, diversity and love. It's edited by one of my favourite authors S.K.Ali and Aisha Saeed, with contributions from 13 other authors.

This was really, really cute. This won't be the longest review because this is written as a children's book and really isn't very complicated.... but there's no denying that many of these stories were absolutely adorable. These stories were the embodiment of joy and happiness. Each one left you with a good feeling at the end.

I definitely had my favourites. S.K. Ali's story made my tear up a little bit and Randa Abdelfattah's made me laugh hysterically - seeing an Australian author and story included was something I really appreciated.. I also had a few that I wont name that I didn't like very much but that's just what happens in anthologies;

This was a really important book. I've always felt to be reasonably knowledgeable about cultures and religions other than my own but I feel like I learnt a lot about Islamic terminology and what it's like to grow up Muslim. I was able to get a taste of how important and loving Muslim communities are. Learning about Eid's from a Catholic perspective in school led me to believe they were often a somber event whereas this anthology really made me feel the happiness of these holidays. 

This book is important both for non-Muslims to better understand Islamic culture or religion and for Muslims to be able to see their lives represented in paper by authors who are just like them.

I'm rating this one 3.5 stars out of 5 because while I loved a few of the stories and think it's really important representation, I'm not the biggest fan of children's books (the personal enjoyment wasn't always there) and there were a few stories where the writing style really wasn't to my taste.

Insightful. Fun. Juvenile.

This was quite an enjoyable read. As a non-Muslim person, this anthology was such an incredible insight into the culture of Islam and more specifically Eid. I want to begin this review by expressing how important I believe this book to be, and how incredible I know it will be for young kids to be able to finally see themselves in the stories they choose to read. The fact that this entire anthology is told through own-voices authors was a marvelous idea, and I'm so happy that a book like this exists today.

Now, I understand I am not the target audience for this story. And I mean that not so much as to point out that I'm not of Islamic faith, but rather because I am not an eleven year old child. My mistake going into this book was that I did not know it was middle grade, and for that my enjoyment took a bit of a beating. I found the characters to be true to their age which many would see as a huge positive, but in my case I got tired of reading about children as I myself could not really relate to any of them.

That being said, one thing that I related to on a much larger scale were the sibling dynamics. I have a younger sister myself, and some of the fights between brothers and sisters were very reminiscent of fights I've had with her. 

For many of the short stories, the imagery was lush and enchanting and oh my GOODNESS, the descriptions of food throughout this book were so wonderful. I can also appreciate the inclusion of other forms of storytelling such as the graphic novel and the poetry. To include mixed media like that was a very intelligent choice.

Every story in this anthology connected to each other very well, and the conscious choice to place the darker, more melancholic stories between the blatantly joyful ones was a choice well made. I can see the editors of this anthology did their job well.

Although the stories flowed well together, I did find them getting repetitive as I continued to read. The stories all seemed to blur into one, and there were points where I felt like I just kept reading the same thing, despite there being several obvious differences between the pieces. 

In the end, I think this was a very well written collection, despite it not being a favorite of mine or something I could necessarily relate to. My favorites stories were definitely "Not Only an Only," "Just Like Chest Armor," and "Searching for Blue." 

Lastly, thank you again to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this early review copy, especially seeing as this book was one of my most highly anticipated releases of this year!

I got approved for this e-arc on Netgalley so I decided to give it a go. I was quite excited because I love Eid and having stories centred around Eid made me happy. However, I felt like this anthology was a bit of a let down. Admittedly, I am not the audience for this book. It is aimed at a middle grade audience and it is very clearly aimed at those who don't know much about fasting and Eid. However, I have read a number of middle grade books in my time but this felt too young, even compared to those. The writing was quite juvenile as evident by the overuse of exclamation points and it just didn't feel realistic. On top of that, this anthology is incredibly short and it has a number of stories in it. Therefore, the stories themselves weren't very well developed. Just as you began to understand the characters and the story arc, it ended. I think this is a good read for younger children, especially if they want to learn more about Ramadan and Eid, however it just wasn't for me.

(The graphic novel chapter was illegible on the Kindle, and featured only two pages of the story duplicated 3 or 4 times so I could not read it)

A really sweet short story collection that all takes place on Eid. As a non-Muslim reader, I learned a lot about a culture that differs from mine and I am excited to add this title to my classroom library.

Listen I’m so glad I read this before Ramadan because if I’d read this next month I think I would have been so dehydrated from crying so much! ANYWAY, I can’t express enough how wholesome and wonderful every single one of these stories was!

I love that each author was able to introduce their own cultures and bring up important themes like friendship and patience and generosity. There were so many relatable moments (hence the crying) that had me immediately wanting to buy multiple copies so I could give them to my family and friends. I especially loved that because each Muslim experience is different, there were so many unique perspectives (not only with the authors but also with the characters in each story).

Each author brought their own experiences and cultures to light and I really loved hearing familiar stories as well as getting to see new experiences. I was introduced to a few new Muslim authors which always makes me happy, and I got to read more from some of my favorite authors!

Some of the stories were full of hope and joy while others dealt with struggles related to family, friendship and fitting in or spending Eid without loved ones. That one really hit harder than most because of what’s happening in the world right now, but nonetheless it was always heartwarming and gave me hope!

I don’t know how else to express my love and gratitude to these authors for sharing these heartwarming stories. This book couldn’t come at a better time and I would recommend this to everyone, especially if you’re Muslim!

If you enjoy heartfelt stories of children learning the about the spirit of Ramadan, learning about different Muslim experiences and cultures around the world, and want to feel some EMOTIONS™ then you should definitely check out this book! If you want to see themes of friendship, family, hope, loss, fitting in, and the lessons learned in Ramadan… this is the book for you! I would recommend this to Muslims (new and old and of all different cultures) who want to be reminded about the true meaning of the Ummah and of Eid and to anyone who wants to learn about all kinds of unique Muslim experiences told in unique ways!

Some stories about Eid are very multicultural and diverse, but this anthology greatly surpasses that expectation with its genre-bending format. At some point, I went from reading a short story to reading a graphic novel with characters that I and my children can see themselves in. What I most admired was the ensemble's ability to relate over food. For children who are new to fasting, Eid is akin to Thanksgiving. The smells and the tastes are so visceral. The power of food bonded two cousins from different cultures, gave a mother the will to fight, brought together an unlikely alliance and made the holiday that much sweeter. But the stories are not just about food, they are about finding the meaning beneath the celebrations: giving, kindness, love, and faith. Luckily, it didn't come off as "preachy" either. I think there is something here for everyone, including the reader who isn't Muslim. Holidays are a great way to introduce another culture or religion. My recommendation for the adult reader is to read this book along with your child or as a family in preparation of Ramadan.

I thought this book was incredible.  As a teacher of students from various backgrounds I felt this was a great way for students to experience something they might not know about.  I feel like even students as young as second grade will learn from this book.

I thought this was such a great collection of short stories. I feel like I learned a lot from reading the book as well. It led me to researching certain words and terms used in the stories. I like this book and the perspective it offers. Great YA read!

I enjoyed many of the stories in this book. They were touching, fun, and gave insight into the different meanings this holiday has to Muslims around the world. However, the quality varied story to story, and they were quite repetitive as a whole: you could see the ending from a mile off. In keeping with the holiday story genre, they were usually very cheesy. I think this book would be best enjoyed by picking a few individual stores to read with a class or reading group, or spreading them out over the Eid seasons.