World Religions and Holidays  

Amira's Picture Day by Reem Faruqi: Amira is excited because tomorrow is Eid with special clothes, treats, gifts, and a morning party at her mosque; but then she realizes that she is going to miss class picture day at school, something she was also looking forward to.  Amira has to figure out a way to be in two places at once. (2021, audiobook)

Archie Celebrates Diwali by Banerjee Mitali Ruths: It's Archie's favorite holiday-Diwali. And this year she gets to share it with her friends and introduce them to the festival of lights! Archana loves her family's annual Diwali party, and this year she gets to share it with all her friends from school. She helps with the decorations and the food, and is eager for everyone to arrive. But once the party starts a thunderstorm kicks up and drenches the outside decorations and knocks out the power. Archie worries that everything will be ruined. How can there be a festival of lights without any electricity? (2021, video)

Are We There Yet? by Sven Völker : Bear wakes up after his long winter's sleep and joins his friend, Butterfly, on a journey. "Where are we going?" asks Bear. "All journeys have secret destinations," says Butterfly. As they travel through forest, over hill, and across a great river, Butterfly offers her wisdom about hardships, facing one's fears, and living in the moment. Bear's natural impatience gradually softens into acceptance of the world around him.  A gentle and inspiring way to introduce Buddhist philosophies and values. (2023)

Hair Twins by Raakhee Mirchandani: A Sikh father and his daughter go through their daily hair routine. Every morning Papa combs through his daughter's waves like he does his own, parting it down the middle, and using coconut oil to get all the tangles out. Some days he braids her hair in two twists down the side of her face. Other days he weaves it into one long braid hanging down her back. But her favorite style is when he combs her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. (2021, video)

Holi Hai! by Chitra Soundar: Gauri is excited to splash colors on everyone for Holi. But when she doesn't get her favorite color, Gauri gets mad. Will she find a way to overcome her anger and join in the festivities? (2022, video)

The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin: Written in the cumulative style of "The House that Jack Built," this picture book builds a rhythmic list of reasons a young Muslim boy, Kamal, loves going to his masjid on Fridays for Jumu'ah prayer. (2023)

Miriam and the Sasquatch by Eric Kimmel: The autumn leaves are turning yellow and gold. The apples are ready to pick. Miriam can't wait to have fresh apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah. But something is eating the apples in the orchard. It's a sasquatch! (2022, video)

Moon's Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi: Moon smiles down on Earth and observes different countries celebrating Ramadan until her crescent tinkle triggers the start of Eid. (2023, video)

The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil: When Teita finally arrives from Egypt on the night before Eid, young Zain is eager to help her bake a special cookie called ka'ak to share with his classmates. (2023)

Raquela's Seder by Joel Edward Stein: Raquela yearns to celebrate a Passover seder, but Inquisition-era Spain is a time when Jews must hide their religion. Under the rising moon, her clever papa, the best fisherman in town, creates a unique celebration for his family. In his fishing boat on the sea, far from prying eyes, they celebrate Raquela's first seder with matzah and the Passover story. (2022, video)

Rivka's Presents by Laurie Wallmark: In 1918 New York City, little Jewish girl Rivka, who lives on the Lower East Side, trades chores with people in her neighborhood for lessons until she can finally attend school. (2023)

Salat in Secret by Hatem Aly: A boy named Muhammad receives a special salat rug on his seventh birthday. Seven is the age when Muslim children are encouraged to pray, and Muhammad is determined to do all five daily prayers on time. But one salat occurs during the school day and he's worried about being seen praying at school. His father parks his truck to worship in public places, and people stare at and mock him. Will the same thing happen to Muhammad? (2023)

Sitting Shiva by Erin Silver: A little girl grieves the loss of her mother, but she can't grieve alone. When her friends and family arrive at her house to sit shiva, laden with cakes and stories, she refuses to come downstairs. But the laughter and memories gradually bring her into the fold, where she is comforted by her community. By the end of the book, she feels stronger and more nourished, and she understands the beautiful tradition. Then, when sees her father sitting alone, she is able to comfort him in his time of need. (2022, video)

Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister? by Chitra Soundar: Sona Sharma's house is full of people who joke often and argue sometimes. Relatives come unannounced, the phone rings frequently and friends drop in all the time. Then one day Amma tells Sona she is going to have a baby. Is that good?  Sona isn't sure. She has always enjoyed being an only child. When Sona learns that there will be a Hindu baby naming ceremony, she is determined to find the perfect name for her new brother or sister. Because although she realizes that her life is about to change, and while she's having some difficulty in coming to terms with having to share everything with the new baby, Sona Sharma wants to be the very best big sister she can be. (2021)

Talking to God: Prayers for Children From the World's Religions by Demi: How do Jews, Christians, and Muslims pray? What about Hindus and Buddhists, Taoists and Shintoists, Africans and American Indians? How do each of them pray? Find out in this book of prayers for children. Taking readers on an exciting journey across the globe, it celebrates the life of prayer shared by all the world’s religions. (2017)

Enlighten Me by Minh Lê: Binh and his family take a trip to a silent meditation retreat, where he learns a lot about himself and how to manage his feelings through Buddhist teachings. (2023)

Honey and Me by Meira Drazin: When eleven-year-old Milla's best friend Honey joins her school for sixth grade Milla finds herself in her friend's shadow, but as the year progresses through the Jewish holidays Milla tries to cope with the tensions and the dramas of school, including the death of a beloved teacher. (2022)

Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade by Lyla Lee: Mindy is excited to go to the Lunar New Year parade in her new town with her father and her friend Sally. (2020, video)

Muslim Girls Rise: Inspirational Champions of Our Time by Saira Mir: Discover the true stories of nineteen unstoppable Muslim women of the twenty-first century who have risen above challenges, doubts, and sometimes outright hostility to blaze trails in a wide range of fields. Whether it was the culinary arts, fashion, sports, government, science, entertainment, education, or activism, these women never took "no" for an answer or allowed themselves to be silenced. Instead, they worked to rise above and not only achieve their dreams, but become influential leaders. (2019, video)

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis: In 1938, twenty-nine-year-old Nicholas Winton saved the lives of almost 700 children trapped in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia-a story he never told and that remained unknown until an unforgettable TV appearance in the 1980s reunited him with some of the children he saved. (2021, video)

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani: Shy twelve-year-old Nisha, forced to flee her home with her Hindu family during the 1947 partition of India, tries to find her voice and make sense of the world falling apart around her by writing to her deceased Muslim mother in the pages of her diary. (2018, audiobook)

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices edited by S. K. Ali: A joyous short story collection by and about Muslims.  All of the stories focus on the holiday Eid. (2020, audiobook)

Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female Rabbi by Sigal Samuel: Osnet, the world's first female rabbi, was born almost five hundred years ago, during a time when few girls were allowed to read. Her father was a great scholar whose house was filled with books, and she convinced him to teach her. She grew up to teach others, becoming a wise and famous scholar in her own right. (2021, video)

Peace by Wendy Anderson Halperin: Based on the Eastern philosophies of the Tao Te Ching (Taosim), a lyrical picture book explores the eternal question of how to promote world peace and shares inspiring quotes from famous peacemakers while counseling readers on how to find peace within oneself. (2013, video)

The People Remember: A Kwanzaa Holiday Book for Kids by Ibi Aanu Zoboi: Recounts the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. (2021, audiobook)