Ramadan Readathon: Books We Recommend As Eid Gifts for Children

In a few days the holy month of Ramadan will end for Muslims. During Ramadan Muslims fast for 30 days. This means they do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. Instead, time is spent praying, meditating, reading the Quran, and engaging in spiritual activities. Ramadan ends with a celebration called Eid. Muslims celebrate by attending special prayers, visiting family and friends, eating feasts, and exchanging gifts (if they choose to).

The inspiration behind this post is my 16 month old niece. Being the booknerd I am, I knew I wanted to start building her library as soon as possible. I also knew I wanted the first books in her library to connect to her Islamic faith and background, as well as represent Muslim writers. I set out to research children's books written by Muslim authors and found some wonderful options. When I learned of the Ramadan Readathon happening this year, I knew I wanted to share this list with anyone interested in diverse children's literature.

If you're interested in book recommendations for adults, check out Nadia's post HERE. Additionally, Zoya has compiled a list of book recommendations for young adults HERE.

Books We Recommend as Eid Gifts for Children

1. Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan

"Magnificently capturing the colorful world of Islam for the youngest readers, this breathtaking and informative picture book celebrates Islam's beauty and traditions. From a red prayer rug to a blue hijab, everyday colors are given special meaning as young readers learn about clothing, food, and other important elements of Islamic culture, with a young Muslim girl as a guide."   

{GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon} 

2. The Perfect Gift by J. Samia Mair

"Sarah is sad because she cannot find an Eid gift for her mother, so she takes a walk along the secret path in the woods that always makes her feel better. There she finds the first flower of spring—God's perfect gift to the world. Leaving her gift in its place to share with her entire family, Sarah grows in her understanding and appreciation of nature and what it means to live in submission to God."   {GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon}

3.  5 Pillars of Islam by Anwar Cara

"Written in simple, rhyming language and accompanied with bold, colorful illustrations, this book is perfect to introduce young children to the most important acts in Islam: the Five Pillars. Each spread features one of the Five Pillars: believing in Allah and His Messenger, praying, fasting, giving charity, and performing Hajj." 

{GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon}

4. It's Ramadan, Curious George by Hena Khan

"It's the first day of Ramadan, and George is celebrating with his friend Kareem and his family. George helps Kareem with his first fast and joins in the evening celebration of tasting treats and enjoying a special meal. Then, George helps make gift baskets to donate to the needy, and watches for the crescent moon with the man in the yellow hat. Finally George joins in the Eid festivities to mark the end of his very first Ramadan."    

{GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon}

5. An Eid for Everyone by Hina Islam

"Eid is a holiday celebrated all over the world. It is a festival that brings together people through prayer, charity, and family reunions. So let's enjoy this holiday together with some special friends taking part in different traditions of this celebration."
{GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon}

6. Amira's Totally Chocolate World by J. Samia Mair

"Amira loves chocolate so much that every night before she goes to sleep, she asks God to make everything chocolate. On Eid-ul-Fitr, she wakes up to find a totally chocolate world! At first she loves her new world, but when she discovers that she misses all the beautiful colors in nature, she realizes that God, the Creator, knows best."

{GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon}

7. Night of the Moon by Hena Khan

"Yasmeen, a seven year old Pakistani-American girl, celebrates the Muslim holidays of Ramadan, "The Night of the Moon" (Chaand Raat), and Eid. With lush illustrations that evoke Islamic art, this beautiful story offers a window into modern Muslim culture-- and into the ancient roots from within its traditions have grown."

{GoodReads} {Book Depository} {Amazon}

Thank you to Nadia and Zoya for organizing the #RamadanReadathon and including me in this special post!!

Posted by: Amna (@perusingya)

Covers and Cupcakes: 5 YA Contemporary Reads

What happens when you combine your love of YA books and eating cupcakes? Well, you start imagining delicious cupcakes as your favorite YA book covers! Thus, the new blog feature COVERS AND CUPCAKES is born. I've combed through hours of cupcake pictures to find the perfect match for these YA books. This week's theme is contemporary reads. Take a look at my picks and click the link for recipes!

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali

Vanilla cupcakes with yellow & pink rose frosting

GoodReads

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Banana-Caramel Decadence Cupcakes

Recipe

GoodReads

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Blue Velvet Cupcakes with Galaxy Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe

GoodReads

I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

Vanilla Cupcakes with Pink Buttercream Frosting topped with a Daisy

GoodReads

Once And For All by Sarah Dessen

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting as Hydrangeas

Recipe

GoodReads

So, how did I do friends? Is this something you would like to see weekly on the blog? Also, have you read any of these books? Please leave a comment here or on Twitter to let me know your thoughts!

*Disclaimer: Credit for pictures belongs to their respective owners. I own nothing.*

Posted by: Amna (@perusingya)

Cover Reveal: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Bloomsbury kindly revealed the cover of the much anticipated "novella" turned book 6 for the Throne of Glass series featuring Chaol Westfall titled TOWER OF DAWN.

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Synopsis from GoodReads:

"In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica - the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both - and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined."

Sounds like another EPIC Sarah J. Maas novel! 

TOWER OF DAWN will be released in September 2017.

Title Reveal: The Pirate Book by Sara Raasch has a name!

If you follow Sara Raasch on Twitter, then you are familiar with the teases she's given about working on a new story about pirates. Now we have a title for the project!

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Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

"Inspired by the Spanish Inquisition and the golden age of piracy, it follows three characters: a woman seeking justice, a tortured pirate looking for redemption, and an ambitious prince out for power."

Sounds intriguing! THESE REBEL WAVES is set for a Summer 2018 release.

Cover Reveal: The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine

YA Books Central exclusively revealed the next installment of C.J. Redwine's Ravenspire series, THE DARK PRINCE. It's a retelling of The False Prince and The Prince and the Pauper.

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Head over to YA Books Central for the synopsis and to enter a giveaway! Don't forget to add to your GoodReads TBR!! THE TRAITOR PRINCE is set for release February 13th, 2018.

Cover Reveal: Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Check out the GORGEOUS cover for Ashley Poston's upcoming YA scifi retelling of Anastasia, HEART OF IRON.

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Head over to YA Interrobang for the synopsis and to download some cool phone wallpapers! Be sure to add the book to your GoodReads TBR!! HEART OF IRON is expected February 13th, 2018.

News: 20 Shadowhunter Related Questions Answered by Cassandra Clare

BuzzFeed shared this awesome post of Cassandra Clare answering 20 fan questions about her Shadowhunters series. Be warned there are mild spoilers for The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and The Dark Artifices!

BuzzFeed: 20 Of Your Most Burning Questions Answered by Cassandra Clare

Cover Announcement: The Darkest Minds trilogy is getting a makeover!

Alexandra Bracken announced on Twitter that THE DARKEST MINDS trilogy will be undergoing a cover change! The new paperback editions will include bonus content chosen by fans.

This week its a choice for an alternate beginning to THE DARKEST MINDS from either Liam or Sam's point of view. Be sure to click the link below for more info and cast your vote!

#TheDarkestVote

The new covers and short story selections will be revealed in July. 

Title Reveal: Sandhya Menon's 2018 YA Contemporary

Fresh off her achievement of landing on the NY Times Best Seller List for WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI, Sandhya Menon shares the title for her NEW YA Contemporary set for release summer 2018.

source

"Menon's latest contemporary YA follows an Indian-American aspiring teen filmmaker who finds herself caught up in family, friendship, and romance drama narrated through the letters she writes to her favorite female filmmakers."

GoodReads

Sounds like another winner, Sandhya! 

Excerpt: FIREBLOOD by Elly Blake

Are you a fan of Elly Blake's fantasy debut, FROSTBLOOD and dying for the sequel? You're in luck. The NOVL released the FIRST CHAPTER OF FIREBLOOD!!

Click for Ch 1 of Fireblood

Need more excerpts to read? The NOVL will release a chapter for every 1,000 adds on GoodReads for FIREBLOOD and host a giveaway. So what are you waiting for? Go add FIREBLOOD to your GoodReads TBR! This fiery sequel drops September 12th.

7 Most Anticipated Books of Spring/Summer 2017

It’s finally 2017 and time to rejoice in all the brand new YA books heading our way. There are many books on my TBR this year but only a few whose wait has been long and torturous. Take a look at my top 7 books that I can't wait to read in spring/summer 2017!

Pub Date: May 16

Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

Feudal Japan, action, adventure, secret identities, badass warrior girl, and hopefully the swoony/angsty romance that Ahdieh is known to write.

Pub Date: May 2

Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

The Ruined trilogy was one of my favorite new series to start in 2016. It has a badass heroine in Emelina, a compassionate hero in Cas, and lots of action and romance.

Pub Date: May 23

Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

I'm a huge fan of all of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter novels. Clare debuted her latest trilogy, The Dark Artifices with the first book, Lady Midnight in 2016. That book just about killed me with all the book feels. I'm ready for that to happen again with Lord of Shadows.

Pub Date: July 18

Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

The Conspiracy of Us series is a thrilling adventure centered on an intriguing mystery with exotic locations, kickass characters, and swoony romance. With this conclusion to the trilogy, I'm ready to discover the final fates of Avery, Stellan, and Jack.

Pub Date: May 16

Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

This is the sequel/conclusion to The Crown's Game. I really enjoyed the Russian setting, the magic competition, and the multiple point of views from the three main characters: Vika, Pasha, and Nikolai. The Crown's Game ended on a pretty major cliff hanger, so reading this book will be a top priority!

Pub Date: March 14
Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

I love fairytale retellings. It's always fun to read a twist on a classic. Hunted is inspired by Beauty and the Beast. The tag line alone is enough for me to pick this up: A Beauty deadlier than the Beast.

Pub Date: May 2
Add on GoodReads

Why I'm excited to read it: 

I wasn't initially on board with this series but the sequel changed my mind. A Court of Mist and Fury expanded on the world building, introduced awesome new characters, took Feyre through much needed character development, and took an unexpected but pleasant turn in the romance department. With this final installment to the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, I'm eager to follow Feyre through the last part of her journey and see her embrace her strength, intelligence, and all around fierceness in battling those who threaten her world and loved ones.





posted by: @perusingya (Amna)

Favorite Books of 2016

Alas, another year of reading comes to an end. There were many amazing books I read this year, but the following are my absolute faves of 2016.

Book of the Year

If you haven't read the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, you need to put it at the top of your TBR pile for 2017. Maas delivered another epic installment to her fantasy series with Empire of Storms. This book had it all from character development, plot twists, romance, and a jaw dropping ending that leaves you wanting the final book RIGHT NOW.

Stellar Sequel

A Torch Against the Night was one of my highly anticipated books for 2016. The wait was worth it because this sequel did not disappoint. Sabaa Tahir introduces readers to new characters, takes us on an adventure across the Empire, delves deeper into the characters of Laia, Elias, and Helene, and shocks you with a twist you never see coming.

Epic Book Feels

I've read all the Shadowhunters novels by Cassandra Clare. I'm familiar with the roller coaster of feelings, angst, twist, and cliffhangers that Clare is so well known for. I thought I was prepared for Lady Midnight. I was wrong. This book emotionally destroyed me and left me in a book hangover for weeks. But it was so worth it.

End of an Era

There were a few series that sadly came to an end this year, The Winner's Trilogy being one of them. The Winner's Kiss wrapped up Kestrel and Arin's story in a beautiful, satisfying way with plenty of adventure, action, twists, and angsty romance along the way.

A New Beginning

My favorite new series of 2016 is the Ruined trilogy by Amy Tintera. It is a fast paced, action packed fantasy story with a kickass heroine, a swoony hero, and a magical plot that leaves you guessing at what comes next. Suffice it to say I'm hooked on this series and can't wait to read more.

Heart Eyes

There was no shortage of beautiful covers in 2016, but the one that stood out from the rest is Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. It is one of the most creative and attractive covers of the year. As soon as I laid eyes on it I was compelled to pick it up and read the blurb. Everything about this cover from the lettering to the imagery to the colors, makes me look at it with heart eyes.

New to the YA Shelf

Of all the 2016 debuts, The Crown's Game was by far my favorite. From the unique setting of Russia, to the beautiful descriptions of magic and the world, and a trio of enjoyable characters, Evelyn Skye succeeded at delivering a solid first book in a duology.

Diverse Read

When I read The Wrath and the Dawn last year I was blown away by the sheer beauty of Renee Ahdieh's writing. Each description of the world, food, and clothes made you feel like you were right there experiencing this fantasy Arabian setting with fierce heroine Shazi. Ahdieh's spectacular writing continues in The Rose and the Dagger as it gives readers a worthy ending to this retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. This books is filled with angsty, swoon romance, surprises, mystery, action, and an ending that leaves you with all the book feels. It was refreshing to read about a positive representation of the Middle Eastern culture. 

Classic with a Twist

Aladdin is one of my favorite Disney movies. When I found out that The Forbidden Wish was a retelling of this classic it jumped to the top of my TBR. I loved that Khoury chose to center the story around a female genie and her relationship with Aladdin, but also included plenty of strong heroines in the story. This twist to the classic tale makes The Forbidden Wish a unique and highly enjoyable retelling. 

Thrilling Mystery

I was sold on the The Conspiracy of Us series with the simple blurb, "It's a Da Vinci Code style thriller for teens." I love heist/spy/adventure/thriller stories and this once delivered on all accounts. Map of Fates is book two in the trilogy and takes readers to new exotic locales, dives further into the mystery surrounding the prophecy, and heats up the romance between a certain pairing. 

Favorite Novella

I am a huge fan of the Heist Society novels by Ally Carter. They are fun, entertaining, and well written. It was a happy surprise to find out that Carter wrote another novella for this series. Kat, Hale, and the rest of the crew are back for another heist adventure that has them racing against time to save Christmas. I loved revisiting these characters and seeing what they are up to after the original trilogy ended. I hope Carter will write more because two novellas are not enough!

And that's a wrap on 2016! What were some of your favorite reads of the year? Did you read any books from my list? Please comment below with your thoughts.

~Amna (@perusingya)