Zoom the cat follows a mysterious trail through a bookshelf to Egypt, where he joins his friend Maria in a search for his Uncle Roy.
Zoom Upstream
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Hungry Hyena
Fish Eagle uses Hyena’s overriding greed to teach him a lesson he won’t soon forget when she tells him the biggest, sweetest meat is in the sky and he just has to climb up to get it.
Why the Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale
The sky was once so close to the Earth that people cut parts of it to eat, but their waste and greed caused the sky to move far away.
The Man Who Knew Too Much: A Moral Tale from the Baila of Zambia
A husband does not believe it when his wife tells him that their crying baby is comforted by a huge eagle who flies down with its sharp talons and alights on the baby.
The Royal Drum: An Ashanti Tale
A read-aloud rebus treasure from the Ashanti in Ghana. Who is the laziest animal of all? All the animals gather together to help make a drum for the king of the jungle, but Anansi makes certain that Monkey ends up with the hardest job of all.
Clever Ali
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.
Magid Fasts for Ramadan
It is the first day of Ramadan, the month when Muslims don’t eat and drink anything all day from sunrise to sunset. Magid’s parents have told him that he is not old enough to fast during the Ramadan, but Magid does not want to wait. Set in present-day Cairo, Egypt.
How The Fisherman Tricked The Genie
After releasing a captive genie from a bottle, a poor fisherman must rely on his wits when instead of wishes the genie promises revenge.
Time To Pray
When young Yasmin goes for a visit, her grandmother teaches her a Muslim’s daily prayers, makes special prayer clothes, and gives a gift that will help Yasmin remember when to pray. Includes facts about prayer customs.
Ramadan
Describes the celebration of the month of Ramadan by an Islamic family and discusses the meaning and importance of this holiday in the Islamic religion.