A Ramadan Night by Nadine Presley, illustrated by Asma Enayeh
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Publication Date: January 27, 2026
- Reviewed from copy provided by publisher
- ISBN: 9781665969338
Join a boy and his father at the beginning of Ramadan as they explore the sensory parts that make up a Ramadan night. The two of them walk to the mosque together in Damascus. They see the lights of the moon and stars above them. Their steps join those of many others as they walk hand in hand. The mosque is filled with laughter and warmth as they ready themselves for prayer. They bow under the mosaic ceiling and the scent of the mosque meets Sami’s nose. The evening ends with food to fill their empty bellies. Then they return home and Sami knows he’s found what makes a Ramadan night special.
Presley uses all the senses to evoke a night in Syria. Readers will feel part of the setting as the streets are explored, the mosque visited and community built. Her writing is rich and descriptive. She lets the elements in the setting tell their story with poetic language. Eneyeh’s illustrations are simple and bold. They share the beauty of Damascus and the community built around Ramadan. Both author and illustrator have lived in Syria and based the book on their memory of Ramadan in the city.
An inviting and richly told story of Ramadan. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Waking Brain Cells 
