Aneesa, apparently living in the U.S., misses her parents, who are in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage hajj, but she enjoys celebrating Eid al-Adha with her grandmother. They go to the prayer hall to hear a sermon. Afterwards, over doughnuts, she befriends two girls and learns that they have escaped from a war-torn country. Later, Aneesa talks with her grandmother about refugees and gains an ally in her plan to help her new friends, who appear to be poor and hungry. Although the text of this picture book is a little longer than most, the clearly written story will interest many children, including those who have never heard of Eid al-Adha. Jacobsen's pastel-pencil pictures illustrate the story with warmth. Appended are a glossary, a pronunciation guide, and explanations of references that may be unfamiliar to children. By the writer of My Name Is Bilal (2005), this is a welcome addition to holiday collections.

Gr 1-4-This beautifully composed story straddles two worlds-America and Islamic Indo-Pakistani culture. Eid-ul-Adha is a celebration of Prophet Abraham's sacrifice and trust in God. It is celebrated in a manner similar to Thanksgiving by offering lamb rather than turkey, which is distributed among the poor, the family, and friends. This benevolent distribution is a key part of this story. Aneesa is missing her parents, who have gone to Saudia Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, leaving her at home in America. Her grandmother distracts her with gifts, then cooks her favorite meal-lamb korma. Dressed in their elegant holiday clothing, Aneesa and Nonni visit the mosque. Aneesa notices two sisters in ragged clothing who are refugees from a war-torn country. Feeling concern for them, she puts together a plan with Nonni's help. This is a heartwarming tale of a child's generosity, and Jacobsen's illustrations flesh out the warmth and tenderness of the characters' interaction. This is a welcome contribution, giving much-needed visibility to a celebration observed by over ten million people in North America. A glossary explains the Arabic and Urdu terms.-Fawzia Gilani-Williams, Oberlin Public Library, OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.