Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid - Behind The Book

Brought to life with gorgeous illustrations by the always brilliant Nabila Adani, Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid is a warm and funny celebration of the true meaning of Eid - with Ibraheem discovering that the greatest gift of Eid is the bond of love forged through family, culture and community. This heart-warming yet funny tale is a celebration of curious children, family love and the true meaning of Eid.

Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid was written by Farhana Islam and published by Puffin.

This beautiful book is officially out now! We spoke with Nabila, represented by Susan Penny, to find out what it was like bringing this project to life. Read below to find out.

What was your initial vision for the characters of the book?

Ibraheem was based on her son but obviously I took some liberaties as he was just a newborn then - I was going for a cheeky, curious, south asian descent boy - pretty much in some spirit with Noor (the character from the previous book, Not Now Noor) but tired to make him slightly more pensive than Noor. I want to make him relatable - even though he is a “boy”, he can be sensitive and emotive with his feelings.

Your illustrations are such a distinctive part of your work. How did you develop your style, and how does it reflect the story in this book?

I try to portray the festivity and joy of Eid throughout the book, but I still want to make the festivity friendly, warm and reachable and not over the top. I experimented a lot with a manual approach to achieve that quality. I also wanted to show a lot of the character’s background - and I did this through the homes and his neighborhood.

Is there a personal or emotional connection you have with this story or its themes?

Yes, I love Eid, especially Eid al Fitr. It is such a big celebration in the place where I came from. But as I grow older I understand that it is much deeper than just a celebration. It is a message that wraps beautifully in this story that I would love to share with my kids as well.

What were the biggest challenges in bringing this book to life, and how did you overcome them?

The timeline! I got so carried away with research and experiments sometimes, especially when I was learning about new cultures and how they celebrate things that are important! Luckily, my editor was so good in keeping the timeline and I also worked on managing the schedule with daily checklists as well.

How has working with your agent shaped your journey and this book?

Sus has been great at bringing me projects that are very interesting, helping me develop my personal illustration style even further - I’m very grateful for her.

How do you hope readers will connect with your illustrations and the story?

Even if the book it’s about Eid, it’s about a journey in finding things that are important. Which I think would resonate to a lot of readers regardless of their background - and there is a cat! There is also lot of food, heartwarming family moments and colorful settings too. I hope it brings a smile to the readers.

Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid is available to buy here.

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To work with Nabila, get in touch with her agent Susan Penny here.