Mommy Sayang by Rosana Sullivan
Aleeya and her mother live in a small Malaysian village, a kumpung. Their days were filled with simple joys: chickens, kittens, hanging out laundry, watering the vibrant red hibiscus. Indoors, there is quiet time for mommy's daily prayers, Aleeya's crayoned drawings, and stories under the mosquito net. They prepare a variety of tempting dishes and enjoy sharing meals with family and friends. Little Aleeya and Mommy sayang, always together. Insh'Allah, I will always be by your side. |
Meet the Author/Illustrator
Rosana Sullivan is a storyboard artist with Pixar Animation Studios. She worked on several Pixar movies including The Good Dinosaur, Coco, and Incredibles 2. Her picture book is part of Pixar's Artist Showcase series. | |
The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard ill by Laura K. Horton
It's time for Ramadan, a month-long religious holiday honoring the revelation of the first verses in the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. It is a time for prayer and refection, study of the Quran, and helping the poor. It may be best known as a period of fasting, going without food and drink from sunup to sundown. Sophia is excited as her family prepares to begin observing Ramadan and decides that she will observe the traditional fast. "Count me in!" she joyfully exclaims. She quickly discovers that what sounds wonderful in theory is difficult in practice. She must awake and eat a meal before sunrise, ignore her rumbling tummy, and resist her brother's chocolate chip cookies. |
| To her dismay, the lure of cookies is impossible to resist. An understanding grandmother helps her see that there are other ways that she can participate in this holy celebration. She can observe Ramadan in a manner that is appropriate for a young child. Use The Gift of Ramadan to introduce this religious celebration to young readers. The month is about emptying oneself of all that is selfish, then filling oneself with all that is good, true, and beautiful. |
Meet the Author: Rabiah York Lumbard | Meet the Illustrator: Laura K. Horton |
Alexis York Lumbard aka Rabiah York Lumbard is an American Muslim living in Qatar with her husband and three daughters. The author of several picture books, she is currently pursuing an advanced degree in creative writing. | Laura K. Horton is a freelance illustrator with a degree in illustration & animation from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She is currently residing in Finland, working on an advanced degree in game design and production. |