The beloved US children's book character Curious George is breaking fast for Ramadan this year - with chocolate-covered bananas, of course.

The just-released children's book It's Ramadan, Curious George celebrates the Muslim holiday, teaching kids about the sacred month.

It comes amid rising tensions fueled by worries about Islamist extremism and a heated presidential campaign during which presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has put out the call for a ban on all Muslims entering the US.

US author Hena Khan "wanted to focus on the celebratory aspects" of Ramadan, so George attends family gatherings and accompanies his friend Kareem to a mosque to put together charity baskets, she told AFP.

A writer of Pakistani origin from Rockville, Maryland, Khan has already written two children's books about Islam, "but there's something different about having Curious George, a mainstream, well-known, iconic character recognize your tradition and make you feel included."

The story assumes the humorous tone of other volumes in the long-running series, which has sold more than 75 million books since it debuted in 1941 and went on to become an animated television series and 2006 feature film.