Middle East

Azad’s Camel

In a big Arabian city, an orphan boy is forced to work as a camel jockey — a dangerous job he doesn’t like. But a new friendship and a magical escape into the desert are about to change his life.

Camel racing is a popular sport in the Gulf states of the Middle East, where child jockeys from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Mauritania, and Eritrea are used to ride the camels. Some impoverished families are persuaded to sell sons as young as five years old, who are taken away to be trained and often badly treated. Accidents are common, and when a little jockey falls off a racing camel, he can receive serious injuries. Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates have all banned the use of child jockeys and are returning children to their families so that they can go to school and live a normal life.

The Sandwich Swap

Lily and Salma are best friends. They play together and stick together through thick and thin. But who would have ever thought that ordinary peanut butter or plain old hummus could come between them? Lily and Salma don’t quite understand each other’s tastes, but does that mean they can’t be friends? They understand far better than a lot of gown ups that these things hardly matter and that friendship is the most important thing of all.Her Majesty,Queen Rania’s children’s book is inspired by her own experience.

Join the discussion of The Sandwich Shop as well as other books centered around relocation on our My Take/Your Take page.

 

T Is for Turkey

With a history going back 4,000 years, Turkey has been the homeland to many civilizations — Greeks, Romans, Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, and Hittites — each of whom has left their cultural, social, and religious marks. Turkey also has some of the best cuisine in the world. Each region offers its own specialties, and the Turkish people have a well-deserved reputation for hospitality. Divided by the Bosphorus strait and bordered by the Aegean Sea, The Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey bridges the two great continents of Europe and Asia. Its varied terrain is rich in Roman ruins, mosques, and Greek and Armenian churches, and due to its geographical position, while some Turks are skiing in Erratum, others are swimming in Natalya.

The Earth Shook

Little Parisa-Farsi, left alone after an earthquake demolishes her home of Bam, Iran. She doesn’t despair. She does what any little girl would do. She dances. She laughs. She shares. She reveals our common humanity.

 

 

Who Said What?

Four little girls were playing in the sand. They were also talking. Find out how simple conversation can turn into juicy gossip. In the end, everyone gets so puzzled and confused, no one remembers who said what.

Sindbad’s Secret

Sindbad the Sailor has escaped death many times and is planning to live the rest of his life on dry land. But the sea beckons, and he sets out for one final adventure. As he sails from a beautiful far-off land where people drink scented tea, a storm destroys the ship. Sindbad finds refuge on an island, but it holds little safety for him. Ivory traders make him their slave. It seems that he will live out his days in servitude. But the power of love, and his compassion for a baby elephant, give him the strength he needs for survival. His voyage offers him the answer to life’s greatest secret, and finally he can rest.