Husna and the Eid Party: An Eid Story

Husna and the Eid Party is a tale about a child wanting to be invited to a friend’s party, not getting an invitation, experiencing a series of misunderstandings, and then finding resolution. I appreciate that the author and the Islamic Foundation have used this universal experience to introduce Muslim culture from a child’s perspective.

Husna is just like any other girl; she goes to school, spends time with her family, and wants to be with her friends. She just happens to wear a head scarf and attend an Islamic school. I appreciated the opportunity to learn a lot of Arabic words and Islamic terms in this book. However, it was difficult to figure out the intended audience––was it aimed at all children so they can learn more about Islam and Muslim culture? Or was it geared more toward Muslim children, to give them representation in literature?

As there are comparatively few books featuring diverse characters, they need to be accessible and enjoyable. I want to acknowledge that while I didn’t find this story particularly engaging, I think it serves an important purpose. Sometimes there are more important things than the quality of the story––and I think this is one of those times. Although the illustrator wasn’t named, the illustrations were vivid and engaging.