Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

Fifteen Muslim authors – and one very talented illustrator – have created a book that is complete joy. Each story has family and celebration at its heart, and the protagonists’ delight in the traditional festivities leaps off the pages. From stories about caring for a mother who’s ill, to arguing (and making up) with cousins and siblings, through wearing a hijab for the first time, and attempting to bake the perfect Eid brownies, there is something to suit every reader’s taste. Some stories are simply fun, many are moving, such as the story set in Greece, of a Syrian refugee attempting to recreate the festivities of Eid for his community with limited resources. There’s even a story told in graphic form, of a girl and her donkey trying to see the moon despite the light of all the lanterns around them.

The book is an American publication, though it’s available in the UK, and most stories are set in the US. The authors are mostly American, too, although there is a Canadian and an Australian as well. The overall theme across the anthology is of connection – of sharing the joy at Eid, and being generous and kind to all who surround you, not just other Muslims. It is a book to treasure, for readers from every walk of life.