Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story

Ten-year-old Lailah is excited that she is old enough to begin her first fast for Ramadan but that excitement wanes at school when her teacher and friends think she forgot to bring her lunch and take her to the lunchroom. When Lailah steals away to the library, she explains the situation to the librarian who encourages her to tell her classroom teacher who in turn encourages Lailah to share her poem and information about Ramadan with her classmates. This engaging story deals with themes of identity, acceptance, traditions, and self-advocacy, and presents the tradition of fasting during Ramadan in a positive, sensitive manner. Suitable for class read-aloud, a read and respond text, or mentor text.