Everyone's favorite cheeky monkey is back in an all-new adventure this year. The Man with the Yellow Hat and Curious George celebrate Ramadan for the first time with their friend Kareem in It's Ramadan, Curious George. Author Hena Khan hopes the book will provide much-needed representation for Muslim children and forge interfaith understanding with non-Muslims.
Khan has written several educational books for children, including two Worst-Case Scenario titles. The NY Daily News reports that "Houghton Mifflin Harcourt asked the children’s author to pen [ It's Ramadan, Curious George ] after reading her earlier works exploring Muslim culture" — Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story and Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors.
It's Ramadan, Curious George shows many aspects of the month of fasting, including the festivities of the Eid al-Fitr: the fast-breaking holiday at the end of the month. To celebrate the Eid, Kareem gives the Man with the Yellow Hat a yellow fez to wear; George receives a snazzy vest.
Although Kareem's mother is a hijabi, Khan says not all Muslim women depicted in It's Ramadan, Curious George will wear the hijab. She tells The NY Daily News that it was important "to show that 'all Muslims are not homogenous and don’t look a certain way.'" Khan also stresses that her characters are just as American as any others, despite their often misunderstood faith.
It's Ramadan, Curious George is available for pre-order now. Pick it up on May 3 from your favorite retailer.
Image: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
