I definitely feel I was not the target audience for this book, as the stories within these pages read far too simply for me. That's not to say they were poorly written at all! Almost all of them were incredibly sweet, and the ones that weren't had important messages to impart, like the effect of war or persecution on a community. There was one in particular that taught me that there are sects even within Muslim communities, where some of them don't believe others are 'real'.

The biggest criticism that I had for this collection was just how short these short stories were. I understand that they probably wished to have as many voices contributing without making the book to heavy to lift, but it too often felt like I was just starting to get into the story, or a point of the story that might make it different to the others surrounding it.

Most of the stories followed the same two points of minor problem solved in some way by the arrival of Eid. And I get it, Eid is a time of celebration and appreciation, even in difficult times. But even those stories that had recent death or illness in the family couldn't really stand out because there was little time to give them the gravity they deserved.

I've read longer books by some of these authors and unfortunately what I saw in here really didn't shine a light on the talent I've seen from them elsewhere.

A really lovely anthology of Muslim voices bringing joy and representation to Middle Grade. Very enjoyable and fun to read.

This is a collection of short stories from Muslim middle grade authors celebrating the most joyous time of year -- Eid. This is a welcome look into an important Islamic holiday, with deeper musings and explorations into the Islamic faith. This anthology is especially joyous, capturing the essence of the holiday.

Read it last year and I forgot to send my review here on NetGalley!!! Anyway, I can’t pick which is my favourite among the short stories collection in this book. Every one of it has a memorable story and I love every bits of it. It is a beautiful story. Couldn’t recommend you enough to read this book! Please get it!

Every culture needs joyful books that are real representations of their culture. The fifteen stories in this book are joyfully Muslim and this anthology is recommended for most YA collections.

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories by very talented writers that uplifts Muslim voices all set around the joyful holiday that is Eid. This anthology has mixed media; short stories, a poem, a graphic- novel and it all shows the joy and power of Eid. Eid is a holiday that I know a bit about but I always wanted to know more about. I enjoyed how each story is based around this holiday but that every story is different. Every story has its own take this very important holiday. There are so many amazing writers who bright this magical holiday to light. S.K. Ali, Aisha Sneed, G. Willow Wilson, Asmaa Hussein, N.H. Senzai and so many more talented writers.

This book covers many themes of faith, family, friendship, community. These stories encounter challenges, has adventures, everyday life; all based around this holiday. Anyone can read this, you don't have to celebrate this holiday or know cutting about it to enjoy or understand what is going on. These stories are written for all ages it is marked as YA but some feel and read as middle grade. But that does not take away from the magicalness that are these pages.

Few stories that stand out to me were; Perfect by Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow , I felt I learned quite a lot but Madonna culture. I liked Just Like Chest Armor by Candice Montgomery it’s about a character who has finally come of age where she can wear a hijab, enjoyed seeing what it was like for her, what it means, overall a great story. Seraj Captures the Moon was fun, it’s in a different format but the art was adorable.


This was a blast. Enjoyed myself, learned a lot, and want to read and watch more stories set around Eid.

I was given a copy of this to review. This is 100% my own and honest thoughts.

Once Upon an Eid was a heart warming and uplifting anthology all about the indescribable joy of Eid and its power to bring people together. It was full of wholesome, own-voices Muslim representation and it's a brilliant read for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Have been looking for short stories to add to my syllabus since in a remote semester we're stuck with Scribd and Epic, and they're not so great for diversity. And then I'll be recommending that mys tudents buy the entire collection. Thank you!

This book was so wholesome and sweet. The perfect book for anyone searching for a series of adorable Eid stories!

I loved this so much! the stories were so much fun and I lost myself in the writings of the authors involved. Can't wait to buy this for my friends!!!!

N.H. Senzai
This collection of short stories paints miniature portraits of an assemblage of Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. While the practice of faith varies within the Muslim community, each unique Eid observance is memorable.
The anthology is feast for the senses. Stories include lighthearted as well as poignant glimpses into the culminating observance of Ramadan with descriptions of private prayer, public celebrations, distinctive clothing, special food, and gifts. Readers meet a recent convert to Islam. She fasts and samples spicy foods for the first time. For others Eid is bittersweet, reviewing celebrations from years past and remembering absent family members. ​ Some entries follow the journey to be with family: taking the subway to the Bronx or sitting in the car’s back seat with siblings on the way to Sydney, Australia. I loved the descriptions of clothing: choosing to wear a hajib for the first time or fashioning a unique gown from a thrift store purchase.
A variety of writing styles and formats (prose, verse, comic panels) share long-standing traditions and introduce contemporary celebrations. Bake a batch of special Eid brownies with ALL the toppings and savor this delightful anthology. Share the joy of family, generosity, and friendship.
Joyous Faces
It’s true. Muslims women are diverse. They cannot be typecast. Each woman is unique, reflecting her country, culture, and family. Some chose to express themselves with a head scarf. Some opt for a western style of dress.
What do they have in common? Pride in their Muslim identity. Respect for the diverse ways to practice their faith.
Insightful stories. Engaging plots. Thought-provoking points of view. S.K. Ali and Alisha Saeed have assembled the work of fifteen talented women.

This is a collection of middle grade stories about Eid and Muslim celebrations. Each story is written by Muslim authors from around the world, who talk about different ways to celebrate.

Each of the characters had different traditions and different family structures or situations, which reflects the diversity of the world. Though all the characters share the same religion, they have different ways of celebrating Eid. Their traditions were different depending on where they lived, because some places have a bigger Muslim population for them to celebrate together as a community, whereas others celebrated quietly at home. Some characters had different celebrations because of a sick family member, which changed the way they could celebrate with family and friends. These different styles of celebrating reflected the way people celebrate holidays in different ways around the world.

I had many Muslim friends while I was growing up, but I didn’t know much about Eid. I knew they fasted in the days leading up to the holiday and that the date of the holiday changed depending on the moon, but I didn’t know much about the actual celebrations. This was probably also because people celebrated differently depending on what country they were from and their family circumstances. I feel like I understand the holiday much better after reading this book.

I loved this short story collection! I hope there will be more diverse short story collections for young readers to give readers of all backgrounds something to relate to, and to teach other readers about different traditions.

Thank you Abrams Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an incredibly special book. It's an anthology of 15 stories, written by different authors, that focus on experiences surrounding Eid. I know I'm not the target audience, but I learned so much from these different perspectives, and truly appreciate a glimpse into celebrations about which I knew very little. I will definitely purchase the book for my library when it is released in May 2020, and I look forward to seeing the final copy with illustrations. A must read for middle grade lovers, and a vital book to have as part of our collections for young people.

THis is a great short story collection that helps readers understand a culture they may not be familiar with, or gives Muslim readers an authentic reflection of themselves on the page. I am thankful this short story collection exists and I am excited to make it available to students.

A worthy addition to any school or public library young adult collection, but I'd also put it in the adult collection, its not just for kids. The selection of authors is well chosen and brings Eid stories we all need whether Muslim or not.

Reading these short stories about Muslims, as someone who is not affiliated with any religion was eye opining. The describes of family traditions during Eid were heartwarming and usually centered around food. The hardest part about reading short stories is falling in love with characters you won't hear from again. This collection truly had a story for everyone regardless of age or interest.

so sweet and informing(especially for non-muslims). There were so many different voices and so many walks of life for the faith, I'd recommend this to anyone looking to educate through reading.

I loved this book! As a non-Muslim, I have heard of Eid but didn't really know anything about it. I was intrigued by the cover and the content as I strive to learn more about the world and the people around me. This book was a fun way to learn about Eid and many other aspects of Islam. It is full of short stories that give faces to the vast array of Muslims around the world - in different countries and of all different cultures. It's intended for middle grade readers, but this adult really enjoyed it! #OnceUponanEid #NetGalley

As an adult, I have met many people of the Muslim faith and now I am experiencing working with children who are on the path to fully fasting for Ramadan. The Muslim faith has fascinated me since high school when my Father accepted a position in Saudi Arabia. The offer fell through and we never went, but the fascination for learning more never left me. I learned more about Eid this year after talking to some of my students. We talked about traditions and feasting with our families. This book is full of positive stories about about family. I highly recommend it whether parents who are raising children as Muslims or parents like me who want their children to have a world-wide view of other cultures.

Here is a collection of 15 very different, but all well-crafted stories that give readers a glimpse into lives of young Muslim girls and boys as they prepare for the joyous celebrations of Eid-al-Fitr, a time marking the end of Ramadan and fasting and Eid-al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice. And although the writers of these stories come from diverse places and backgrounds, it is the shared belief and practice of their Islamic faith that is the common thread in all these stories, and yet, their stories reflect the many cultural traditions, experiences and themes within their faith. But do not think that these stories are for Muslim readers only, no indeed, they are meant for everyone to enjoy. As the editors write in their epigraph:

"Bismillah. For all readers who know Eid joy, and for all who want to share in it."

In her story "Perfect," Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow explores themes of family, judging, acceptance, and learning to be friends. Hawa, 12, her mom and dad head out of Philadelphia to visit her dad's relatives for an Eid celebration in the Bronx, NY. It is not a visit Hawa is looking forward to. Black American on her mom's side, Hawa's dad's family is from Guinea and most don't speak much English, except for her perfect cousin Fanta, who not only speaks perfect English, but already cooks, and bakes, and is, as far as Hawa is concerned, a major suck up. But when Fanta accuses Hawa of being stuck up, things come to a head between the two girls. Have they always had the wrong impression about each other?

The color blue takes center stage in N.H. Senzai's "Searching for Blue." Bassem, 12, his younger sister Dina, and his mom have fled war-torn Syria and arrived, unwanted by most, on a small Greek island. Now, it's almost Eid, his father's favorite holiday. How can Bassem celebrate with his dad gone, and his family living in a converted factory with a shared kitchen with other refugees. Besides, there are no ingredients for making any of the tasty Eid food he remembers so well, But on his way to work, an idea comes to Bassem and maybe, just maybe the joy of Eid could be found even in this gloomy, overcrowded, run down refugee camp. Senzai has really captured what it feels like to be an unwanted refugee, trying to escape the war that has taken away your life, your father and grandparents, and left you with so little, and the joy and hope that comes from remembering just what Eid is really about - faith and community.

One of the funniest stories is "Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake" by Aisha Saeed. As last minute preparations for his family's traditional Eid brunch the next day get underway, Yusuf and his mom prepare their favorite Eid brownie recipe, while sister Roshan breaks with tradition and makes a fruit tart. This year's Eid is a big celebration with over 50 people, so everything needs to be perfect. The next day, feeling pretty confident, Yusuf puts his brownies into the oven and goes upstairs to help his best friend Erza figure out how to set up his new video game. It sure is easy to lose track of time when it comes to video games, and that's just what happens. When Yusuf pulls out a pan of burnt brownies, he learns a good lesson about eating humble pie, having appreciation for others, and a great family secret.

Once Upon an Eid certainly lives up to its promise of hope and joy. This wonderful collection of short stories (there is even a story in graphic format), aimed a middle grade readers, is filled with love, humor, some grief and loss, even some disappointment but always centered around faith, family, and community.

All together, this anthology offers young Muslim readers 15 wonderfully realistic stories they can relate to, and a window into these important celebrations for non-Muslim readers.

This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was an EARC gratefully received from NetGalley