• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

Once Upon an Eid is a joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling authors Aisha Saeed and S. K. Ali.

Eid! The short, single syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift giving and the holiday parties, or carnival rides to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy.

Contributors include G. Willow Wilson, Hena Khan, N. H. Senzai, Hanna Alkaf, Rukhsana Khan, Randa Abdel-Fattah, Ashley Franklin, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Candice Montgomery, Huda Al-Marashi, Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.

“Each story is engaging, full of emotion and thought. . . . This thoughtful and uplifting volume will keep readers turning pages year-round; here's to many more.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

“A range of diverse, multidimensional characters—among them Shia Muslim, converted Muslim, Algerian, Caribbean, and West African representation—results in a stimulating, celebratory read.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

S. K. Ali is the author of Saints and Misfits, a finalist for the American Library Association’s 2018 William C. Morris Award and the winner of the APALA Honor Award and Middle East Book Honor Award; and Love from A to Z, a Today show’s Read with Jenna Book Club selection. Both novels were named best YA books of the year by various media including Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. She is also the author of Misfit in Love. You can find Sajidah online at SKAlibooks.com and follow her on Instagram @SKAlibooks and on Twitter at @SajidahWrites.

S.K. Ali's profile page

Aisha Saeed is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of books for children. Her middle-grade novel Amal Unbound received multiple starred reviews and was a Global Read Aloud for 2018. Her picture book, Bilal Cooks Daal, received an APALA honor, and she was the co-editor of the critically acclaimed Once Upon an Eid. Aisha is also a founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books™. She lives in Atlanta with her family.

Aisha Saeed's profile page

Sara Alfageeh's profile page

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The diversity within the collection is impressive, including several blended families and a recently converted one, and while the writing varies in style and quality, each story is engaging, full of emotion and thought. . . This thoughtful and uplifting volume will keep readers turning pages year-round; here's to many more."

Kirkus Reviews

"Joyful reunions, irritating relatives, fancy clothes, and special, heartfelt gifts appear in many of the tales, giving an overall tone of warmth and playfulness, and even the stories that take a more somber approach end with possibilities of hope and optimism."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A range of diverse, multidimensional characters—among them Shia Muslim, converted Muslim, Algerian, Caribbean, and West African representation—results in a stimulating, celebratory read."

Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Emotions seem to spill straight off the pages in this absolute triumph of a celebratory anthology."

School Library Connection

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A joyous title that radiates love. This much-needed collection is recommended as a first purchase for all libraries."

School Library Journal

"A delightful and varied collection of stories for middle-grade readers showcases a cross-section of Muslim experiences of the joyous Eid holidays."

Shelf Awareness

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This special anthology about family traditions, sharing meals, giving presents, and delighting in the cultural uniqueness of people all over the world isn’t just for those who celebrate Eid; it’s for all who want to share and learn about the holidays."

Booklist