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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Cookies and Crescents
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
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COUNTRY: Indonesia
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RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Indonesia.
EDUCATION:Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in visual communication design.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2024, review of Eid for Nylah; February15, 2025, review of Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story.
School Library Journal, December, 2024, Sally James, review of Eid for Nylah, p. 104; March, 2025, Cassie Veselovsky, review of Cookies and Crescents, p. 60.
ONLINE
Astound US, Inc., https://astound.us/ (September 10, 2025), author bio.
Zelma was born and raised in Indonesia, and now lives in a small city on the east side of Java island. She studied for a bachelor’s degree in visual communication design and then worked in a small studio, before starting her illustration career. She loves to explore the colourful details of buildings, nature and family interactions in her work. Eid for Nylah is her picture book debut.
Zelma was born and raised in Indonesia. She spends a lot of her time with books and writes whatever she likes. Being a writer used to be her goal until art brings her far away from what she has imagined. She graduated with a bachelor's degree of visual communication design, and then worked in a small studio to understand how the industry works while still drawing from time to time. It took quite some time until she landed her passion in illustration. Drawing is her way to understand herself throughout her childhood memories, favorite movies and cartoon characters. She enjoys exploring little things such as colorful windows, old buildings, and old tree branches. She has worked for a few local publishers in Indonesia. Right now she lives in a small city on the east side of Java island and she's ready to bring her art beyond the limit, soaring into the sky.
Farook, Nizrana EID FOR NYLAH Nosy Crow (Children's None) $17.99 2, 4 ISBN: 9798887771250
A ginger cat who just wants to play goes from house to house witnessing preparations for Eid.
As night falls, a bright sliver of moon hangs in a starry sky. Nylah the cat watches as young Zahra and the rest of the family tidy their house. Unfortunately, no one has time to play with her. Curious Nylah jumps through the window of a neighbor's home, where she finds Bilal and his family hanging ribbons, balloons, and lanterns, but he's too busy decorating to play--a pattern that repeats at each house she visits. Nylah returns home and falls asleep. She awakens early the next morning to find her family decked out in their finest. As they all make their way to the park, Nylah realizes why everyone was so preoccupied it's Eid! Telling her story from the perspective of a sweet, friendly cat, Farook creatively highlights the different ways Muslims prepare for this holiday, from painting henna in intricate designs on their hands to cooking lavish feasts. Firdauzia's bright illustrations of cozy, homey scenes are suffused with dreamy blues and purples--a reminder that the night before Eid is a special time for Muslims. This heartwarming tale concludes with an author's note in which Farook looks back on her own childhood memories and offers more information about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Nylah's family is brown-skinned; her neighbors are diverse in terms of race and ability.
A clever exploration of a significant Muslim holiday.(Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Farook, Nizrana: EID FOR NYLAH." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A817945853/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=30f3658b. Accessed 27 July 2025.
FAROOK, Nizrana. Eid for Nylah. illus. by Zelma Firdauzia. 34p. Nosy Crow. Feb. 2025. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9798887771250.
PreS-Gr 2--Nylah the neighborhood cat just wants to find someone to play with, but in every house she visits, the families are busy. Some are cleaning or decorating their home while others are baking or wrapping presents. In each home, Nylah makes a mess, and a child who is helping his or her family must gently tell Nylah that it isn't play time. "Poor Nylah!" The adorable cat doesn't know that they are preparing for Eid al-Fitr. Finally, Eid arrives, and the Muslim families come together in the park for a day of community prayer and celebration--and "everyone had time to play with Nylah." Firdauzia uses bright, two-dimensional drawings to capture inviting home interiors that are filled with kind, connected families. Background tones of turquoise, blue, and pink complement the happy faces and colorful clothing. Elements of Muslim life are depicted, including a mosque in the background of one spread and women wearing headscarves. The author's endnote states that although the book is based on her childhood, Eid customs may differ as the Muslim community is diverse. Even the new moon of Shawwal, shown in a beautiful spread toward the beginning, can look different, depending on the location where it is viewed, Farook explains. VERDICT A sweet story of Eid al-Fitr that underscores the universal experience of families celebrating a religious holiday together.--Sally James
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
James, Sally. "FAROOK, Nizrana. Eid for Nylah." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 12, Dec. 2024, p. 104. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A836879397/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=aeb11977. Accessed 27 July 2025.
Firdauzia, Zelma COOKIES AND CRESCENTS Abrams (Children's None) $18.99 3, 4 ISBN: 9781419773327
A Muslim child learns that fresh beginnings can bring new ways to celebrate old traditions.
Reem lives in a bustling, tightknit urban neighborhood; the young narrator adores the community's Eid traditions, including Mama's delicious, buttery cookies. But Reem and Mama are moving away just before Eid, and the child is crushed. "Al harakah barakah, Reem. Movement is a blessing," says Mama. Even with a bigger kitchen to bake in, Reem isn't so sure. Sensing Reem's melancholy, Mama suggests they make a batch of cookies together in their new home. Reem finds almost all the ingredients--but wait, where are the walnuts? The cookies won't be the same! Mama comforts the emotionally overwhelmed Reem with her own story of moving as a child and with advice that taking old traditions somewhere new can make them even better. Reem embraces change, adapting Mama's recipe with delectable results, and finds someone with whom to start a new tradition: spotting the crescent moon that signifies the start of Eid. Drawing from her own experiences, Dutka gently delivers a compassionate tale of resilience and introspective growth, emphasizing the adage that "home is where you make it." Firdauzia's digitally created illustrations, dominated by purples, blues, and greens, focus on facial expressions and body language to convey Reem's roller coaster of emotions. Reem and Mama have light brown skin. An author's note offers a sweet message of hope, followed by a recipe for ma'amoul, the story's unnamed Eid cookie.
Tender, heartfelt, and sympathetic.(Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Firdauzia, Zelma: COOKIES AND CRESCENTS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A827101077/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3b688212. Accessed 27 July 2025.
DUTKA, Nada Shawish. Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story, illus. by Zelma Firdauzia. 32p. Abrams. Mar. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781419773327.
K-Gr 3-A heartfelt picture book that uses the celebration of Eid al-Fitr as a catalyst for a touching story about Reem, who is facing a major life change: moving away from her city home, family, and friends. As Eid approaches, Reem struggles with leaving behind the people and traditions she's always known, including the community's love for her mother's famous Eid cookies. The story beautifully captures her feelings of sadness and frustration--especially when the cookie recipe causes a snag. They are missing walnuts and now live too far away from stores to just run and purchase some. Through her mother's gentle care, wisdom, and encouragement, Reem learns to find hope in her new surroundings and discovers the strength to look forward to what's ahead and embrace change. Dutka's storytelling blends emotional depth with the warmth of family traditions, making it both relatable and uplifting. Firdauzia's illustrations bring the story to life with vibrant full-page spreads. The use of rich golds, calming blues, and harmonious greens adds warmth and depth to the narrative, perfectly complementing Reem's emotional journey. VERDICT While not an essential purchase, this book is a valuable addition to Eid collections or for families experiencing big life changes.--Cassie Veselovsky
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Veselovsky, Cassie. "DUTKA, Nada Shawish. Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story." School Library Journal, vol. 71, no. 3, Mar. 2025, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A836878302/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7cc2ca65. Accessed 27 July 2025.