It's Ramadan, a time to focus on good deeds and to fast, and Badir and his brother, Anis, are out for a walk one evening while they wait for their iftar meal. In the park Badir sees a rat. A very, very large rat. He soon learns it's actually a beaver, an animal that doesn't live in Tunisia, the country Badir and his family have emigrated from. It turns out that some of the neighbors who enjoy the park think this beaver is a bit of a pest, but Badir thinks it's wonderful and learns everything he can about the iconic Canadian animal. When a petition is started to remove the beaver, Badir, who knows firsthand how difficult it is to leave your home behind, rallies his classmates to save it. And with a little help from new friends, the kids learn that collaboration and faith can change the way we think about the world.

Description: Aliya already struggles with trying to fit in, feeling confident enough to talk to the cute boy or stand up to mean kids—the fact that she's Muslim is just another thing to deal with. When Marwa, a Moroccan girl who shares her faith if not her culture, comes to Aliya's school, Aliya wonders even more about who she is, what she believes, and where she fits in. Should she fast for Ramadan? Should she wear the hijab? She's old enough for both, but does she really want to call attention to herself?

Looking through the tall trees in their backyard in Maine, Shirin and her dad search for a glimpse of the new moon, the sign that the month of Ramadan has begun. It is the time when Muslims all over the world pray, fast, and focus on good deeds. Nineyear— old Shirin wants to fast like her parents and older brother Ali, but her parents feel she is too young. When Shirin catches Ali sneaking food, she has to decide: Should she tell her parents, or use this as a chance to do a good deed? Moon Watchers--like Lailah's Lunchbox (see page 20), another lovely picture book--is a timely celebration of Muslim traditions in America.