When seven-year-old Ali’s greedy pet steals cherries from the wicked Sultan for whom his father keeps carrier pigeons, Ali is given three days to find 600 new cherries or his father will be thrown into the deep, dark oubliette. Includes facts about carrier pigeons and the sultan on whom this story is based, as well as an excerpt from “In Praise of Books” by al-Jahiz.
Age
Catalog sorted by age group
Sharing Our Homeland: Palestinian and Jewish Children at Summer Peace Camp
Photo-essay focusing on two Israeli children, one Jewish and one Palestinian, who, in spite of their differences and the longstanding conflicts in the region, learn to play, work, and share ideas together at Summer Peace Camp, a day camp located in Israel.
Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak
Deborah Ellis’s enormously popular Breadwinner trilogy recounted the experiences of children living in Afghanistan; now Ellis turns her attention to the young people of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After visiting the region to conduct interviews, she presents their stories here in their own words. Twelve-year-old Nora, eleven-year-old Mohammad, and many others speak directly about their lives – which prove to be both ordinary and extraordinary: They argue with their siblings. They hate spinach. They have wishes for the future. Yet they have also seen their homes destroyed and families killed, and live amidst constant upheaval and violence.This simple, telling book allows young readers everywhere to see that the children caught in this conflict are just like them – but living far more difficult and dangerous lives. Without taking sides, it presents an unblinking portrait of children victimized by the endless struggle around them.
Pea Boy and Other Stories from Iran
Retells folktales and fables from Iran, including the story of a mouse and a cockroach who fell in love, a foolish weaver’s apprentice, and a boy with the head of a chickpea.
The Monkey Bridge
A human king learns wisdom and compassion from a monkey king willing to make a great sacrifice for the good of his subjects.
The Ocean Of Story
A twelfth-century Sanskrit parallel to “The Princess and the Pea” is just one of the surprises in this unusual collection, in which wily peasants, scheming rajahs, and saintly brahmans mingle in stories full of spice and wit. “An intriguing collection of 18 stories….skillfully retold….Vibrant, richly patterned full-page paintings and delightful spot illustrations transport children to a magical country of long ago.”–School Library Journal.
Ancient India (Myths of the World)
These timeless tales of gods and heroes give us a window into the beliefs, values, and practices of people who lived long ago.
India
Festivals of the World offers a colorful introduction to the festivals and cultures of countries around the world.
The Adventures of Young Krishna, The Blue God of India
Diksha Dalal-Clayton retells the stories which enchanted her as a youngster–stories told to her by her grandmother, stories passed down through the generations. For centuries, the adventures of the young Krishna, the god who was always getting into trouble because of his boyish pranks, have delighted Indian boys and girls. Because he embodies both the human and the divine, the child-like and the god-like, Krishna is a favorite with both the young and the young at heart. Stories of the young Krishna’s adventures with gods and kings, his battles with demons, his flirtations with the girls of his village, are all retold with charm, grace and wit. Richly detailed illustrations enhance the text and rouse the imagination. These classic tales from Hindu mythology will open your child’s eyes to the richness and splendor of ancient Indian civilization.
Toads And Diamonds
In a retelling of the Perrault fairy tale set in pre-colonial India, two stepsisters–Diribani and Tana–receive gifts from a goddess and each walks her own path to find her gifts purpose, discovering romance along the way.