The Jinni on the Roof: A Ramadan Story
Written by Natasha Rafi
Illustrated by Abdul Malik Channa
Complete with a recipe for parathas, this story about an eight-year-old enjoying the best parts of Ramadan is a great introduction to the people and culture surrounding Islam. The whimsical illustrations help make this a kid-friendly story.
Little Raza can’t wait to have parathas, a sort of pancake or flatbread, for sehri, the morning meal eaten before the daily fast begins. He climbs to the roof and plays a trick on his grandmother’s cook, Amina, who is already hard at work in the dark morning hours. He knows that if he calls down the chimney, she can hear him. He frightens her into thinking she is talking to a jinni, a fiery creature mentioned in the Quran. Raza is quite pleased with himself until Amina gets Grandmother involved. The jig is up. Raza must help Amina until the end of Ramadan.
First graders will want this read aloud the first time so they can master the terms introduced and learn about the traditions of Muslims and their religion. After that, they will be able to read this again and again. Rafi explains all the traditions surrounding Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan festival.
Title: The Jinni on the Roof: A Ramadan Story- Author: Natasha Rafi
- Illustrator: Abdul Malik Channa
- Published: Pamir LLC, 2013
- Reviewer: Sue Poduska
- Format: Paperback, 40 pages
- Grade Level: Pre-K to 3
- Genre: Fiction, culture, family
- ISBN: 9780988864900
