S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed (eds.)Amulet Books, 2020

For those who have ever wondered what Eid feels like in different countries, Once Upon an Eid is the perfect anthology to explore. This delightful collection of middle-grade short stories celebrates the diversity of traditions observed by Muslims around the world on this joyous occasion that unites them all. It portrays that although religion might be deeply personal, stories of hope and joy like this shows that celebration and kindness transcends diversity. The book begins with introducing the ever-confident and eccentric Hawa. Along with her, we embark on a journey of discovering different customs and traditions celebrated by her South African cousins on Eid and relate to the heartbreak of not being able to wear your perfect dress on Eid. Beyond the celebration of Eid, wonderful descriptions of food and decoration, this book also explores the themes of love, loss and grief of spending a special occasion without a loved one. However, the best thing about this anthology is that not all Muslim characters are portrayed as unrealistically good or perfect, making them feel authentic and relatable.