I loved this book. I think kids who celebrate Ramadan will be able to relate to it, and kids who do not will be able to learn something from it. You cannot ask for more from a book. It was entertaining and educational, and I have already purchased it for my library.

3.5 stars.

Aliya's Secret is a sweet little story, and a nice introduction to Ramadan. Aliya wants to fast and can't because she's too young, so she tries to do so in secret. I'll be honest, once that premise was introduced in the story I was a bit panicked, because the idea of a child not eating and keeping it secret from their parents stressed me out a lot, but this aspect was handled really well, and it gave a solid look into why not to do that. It also explored some of the other traditions of Ramadan and Eid. I do wish it had gone into some of the other reasons to fast for Ramadan, as it seems like this is a bit overly simplified, but it makes for a decent introduction. The art is cute. It's worth the read!

Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan by Farida Zaman (OwlKids Books, October 2023) is a window into the world of one girl excited about Ramadan and eager to celebrate with a daily fast, just as her parents fast. When her parents discourage her from fasting all day, she decides to fast in secret, but it is much harder than she thinks! She learns, though, that there are many ways to celebrate Ramadan, and fasting is just one of them.


Fasting is a regular part of my Christian religion. It is not assigned in a specified way or time but encouraged as a voluntary way to sacrifice physically in order to feel closer to God. I try to fast once a month, and I’ll admit that even I am not always able to do so for an entire day! There have also been years in my life when I was pregnant or fasting or otherwise unable to do so. I could really relate to Aliya’s feelings, both as she was secretly fasting (and feeling upset about the hunger pains) and as she was told she was excused from fasting. She was so disappointed that she had tasted a bite when she wanted to be fasting! I have had a few of those “oops!” moments in my life too, even as a grown-up.

I loved how Aliya’s Secret presented Ramadan as a completely natural part of life. Aliya’s friends come to celebrate Ramadan with lots of yummy treats, and they wear bangles and decorate their hands with henna. In the first classroom scene, the narration reads “Aliya’s class learns about Ramadan.” On the page, Aliya stands at the front of the room with a large card that says, “Happy Ramadan.” One child already new what fasting means. The classroom is also decorated with stars and crescent moons. I don’t know if this means that the class had a full lesson about Ramadan or if it has been discussed because Aliya was eager to do so. But, either way, there is no “othering” in this book, only inclusion and diversity. I loved that!

(I homeschool, so I’m not sure if, in my community, Ramadan would be mentioned if there was not an Islamic student in the class. I’d like to think that we live in such a world where this type of understanding occurs, and non-Christian holy days were at least acknowledged, if not studied.)

I recommend Aliya’s Secret to all children to get this glimpse into Ramadan for one young child. I’m sure many can relate, if not from a religious perspective then certainly from a “I want to join in but I can’t!” perspective. Essentially, though, Aliya’s Secret gives the reader a positive glimpse of the beautiful religion that is Islam.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Beautiful children’s book about Ramadan. Loved the illustrations and message of family and the meaning behind the holiday

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
Reader meet Aliya and see Ramadan through her POV. The story starts on the day before Ramadan begins and shows readers the preparations involved. Aliya wants to fast like her parents but they tell her she is young and needs to eat and grow. She decides to fast in secret. Readers journey with her from her breakfast before sunrise through the school day where she becomes more and more hungry. She helps her mom prepare the iftar meal and her secret comes out. Both her parents offer her other ways to celebrate with the understanding she will join them when she is older.
Lovely illustrations capture the love and faith in this home. Zaman weaves information with the story so readers learn more about this holiday.

Aliya wants to celebrate Ramadan by fasting, just like her parents do, even though her father tells her that she is too young to do so. She decides to fast anyway. As the day goes on, she finds it hard to continue and eventually gives in to her hunger by having some sweets late in the day. Disappointed in herself, she tells her parents about her secret. They reassure her that there are many other ways to celebrate Ramadan, including giving thanks and completing acts of kindness.

This book serves as a lovely introduction to Ramadan for those who may not be familiar with it and as an inclusive text that will allow others to see themselves in the pages. Beautifully illustrated, it presents basic information about the holiday, how it is celebrated, and many of the traditions that are part of the month-long celebration. Aliya’s Secret will make a nice addition to classroom and library collections on traditions and celebrations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

Honestly, I was rather disappointed in this book. As a Muslim raised in Canada, and aware of the proliferation of Ramadan-themed picture books, I was hoping for something a lot more unique than the generic "child's first fast" theme.

Besides being completely generic, it managed to also be offensive - by reducing Ramadan and fasting to "understanding how people feel when they're hungry." Fasting in Ramadan is a fundamental act of worship for Muslims, not some generic feel-good-fuzzy "acts of kindness" thing. To remove this powerful spiritual element from fasting in Ramadan does a complete disservice to readers and to all Muslims.

Additionally, the backmatter says that Muslim kids don't fast until they're 13 - this is incorrect; fasting becomes obligatory on every Muslim when they hit puberty.

Very disappointing to see Ramadan once again stripped of its most important values and having it turned into some kind of cultural tradition or experience instead.

Aliya’s Secret-A Story of Ramadan by Farida Zaman is a beautiful book about the traditions of Ramadan. The words and illustrations are captivating and full of fun facts, even for someone who has no previous knowledge of Ramadan. The glossary is an excellent addition, as well as the author’s note at the end of the book. As she tries to hide a secret, Aliya learns more about Ramadan and the traditions that are so important to her family. The book incorporates friends of Aliya who are not Muslim, and she teaches them about Ramadan. By doing this, the author was able to make this book accessible to all children, not just those of the Muslim faith. A great book!

Ramadan is the month-long fast when many Muslims fast from sun up to sun down. Aliya wants to fast, along with her family, but her parents tell her she's too young. She tries to fast in secret, but by the evening, she caves and eats some sweets. She's disappointed in herself, but her parents remind her there are many other ways to celebrate.

This is a lovely book that teaches about the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, the reasons for the holiday, and how important it is for many believers. Books like this are wonderful because Muslim kids feel represented, and non-Muslim kids get the chance to learn about another culture/religion that may be different and confusing to them. Wonderful illustrations and beautiful story! This should be part of your classroom / school library so every child can learn about Ramadan and Aliya's faith!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced review copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review on the book!

Aliya learns about the significance of Ramadan as she observes her family fasting, praying, and giving charity. She is curious and asks questions about these practices, learning that they are to show gratitude, compassion, and self-discipline. Aliya participates in her own way by doing good deeds every day, feeling a sense of accomplishment, and understanding the true spirit of Ramadan.

Aliya's Secret: A Story of Ramadan revolves around cultural awareness, empathy, and personal growth. It allows your students to explore how learning about different cultures can broaden our perspectives and foster empathy.

Discussion Questions:
1. How does learning about Aliya's experiences during Ramadan help you understand her culture better?
2. How does Aliya show empathy towards others during Ramadan?
3. What are some ways that we can learn from Aliya's growth?
4. How can understanding different cultural practices help us to become more empathetic?
5. In what ways does Aliya's story encourage us to be more aware of and respect diverse cultures?
6. How does the story familiarise you with the significance of Ramadan and the practices carried out by Aliya's family?

Story about a young girl who wishes to observe the month of Ramadan like the adults by fasting from sunrise to sundown. Even though the very young and the very old are excused due to possible health concerns, Aliyah tries. Lovely book which explains the importance of Ramadan and the significance of the new moons, the first which marks the beginning of Ramadan, and the second, called Eid al Fitre, which marks the end. Brief text and colorful illustrations provide a look into the small celebrations that take up the month--foods and treats, the prayer rugs, the acts of kindness, the mosque, the candles, and the painting hands with henna, to name a few. Very important book to add to all collections serving children and adults.
Thank you to Owlkids Books and Netgalley for the digital arc. #AliyasSecret #NetGalley

**Thank you to NetGalley and OwlKids Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Aliya's family is about to start celebrating Ramadan. She asks her father why he fasts, and he says it is to help him understand the way people feel when they're hungry and to be grateful for all he has. Aliya wants to fast too, but they tell her she is too little. Children don't usually fast until they are 13, and she is still growing. However, that doesn't stop her from trying to in secret. Aliya isn't able to go the whole day without fasting, but her parents tell her about other ways she can still celebrate. Praying, giving thanks, and acts of kindness are all things she can do instead.

There are still two meals a day: Sahoor before sunrise to prepare for fasting, and Iftar at sundown that breaks the daily fast. At the end of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated to break all the fasting.

Delicious food mentioned: baklava, biryani, halwa puri, jelabis, ladoos, pakoras, and samosas.

This is a cute own voices story about a young girl who wants to fast during Ramadan. This story is engaging, illustrations are pretty, and the book is informative. I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. This is a great way to explain what Ramadan is to young children, including what fasting entails. It also gets into the traditions of this holiday as well.

A sweet story about a young Muslim girl finding ways to celebrate Ramadan in a meaningful way. I think it’s a great introduction for children and offered an age appropriate perspective of the holiday. I will definitely use this in my classroom.

This is such a touching and jovial tale.

Aliya wonders why is fasting part of the celebration of Ramadan and her parents' response is both endearing and a reminder that she is still too young to participate.

That being said, she is still a determined kid and is both inspired by the reminder of thankfulness that comes with fasting and feels courageous to fast for a day just like her parents.

The day starts off well but by the end, Aliya acknowledges the difficulty in doing so especially after a whole day of school. Her parents expand on other aspects of Ramadan like doing acts of kindness that they can do that together as a family and so they do :)

I loved the message of this book!

This is a beautiful book. It gives a small glimpse inside the traditions of Ramadan. It is very kid friendly in the explanation and length. The illustrations are gorgeous. This is a great overall book!

Aliya's Secret is a wonderful story with beautiful, inclusive illustrations. The plot provides the perfect problem/solution for kids this age. The illustrations draw you in, so you feel like you are part of the story. This Own Voices picture book weaves language and details about Ramadan throughout the text and illustrations which help children see themselves in the story or learn about a new culture through the story. This book would be an excellent addition to any classroom or school library looking for books that celebrate Muslim culture.

This book is a great introduction to Ramadan and the different ways it is observed depending on your age. I loved the sweet illustrations.

I really loved learning more about Ramadan in this book, especially through the child's perspective. I also loved how it talked about ways to celebrate Ramadan other than fasting as I think that's what people grab onto most about Ramadan when really there's a lot more to it. What I didn't love was that Aliya kept fasting a secret -- in our family we talk about not keeping secrets and I would have liked to see more of a family discussion around fasting instead of Aliya trying to keep it a secret; just a personal preference. However, I really enjoyed the book and the ways it explored Ramadan and would recommend it.