See the BooksFor most of the links on this page you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat® or Acrobat Reader® to read the files. Acrobat Reader is free from Adobe. Your computer probably has a copy installed, but if not, you can download a free copy of Acrobat Reader here. Depending on your browser setup, you may have to right-click (or control-click, Mac) on the title of the manual desired. If the PDF won't open please check your downloads folder.  View it online »
(CLBT.pdf) THE CLEVER BOY AND THE
Illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago When a boy visits another village, he is amazed to find the townspeople terrified of something that—just because they have not seen it before—they mistake for a terrible, dangerous animal. With his own knowledge, and by demonstration, he helps them overcome their fears. Rose Mary Santiago’s illustrations accentuate the surprise in this story in a clever way that will delight youngsters. This is the second book illustrated by her in this series, following the award-winning bestseller, The Farmer’s Wife. Chosen by the Library of Congress for their 2002 Children’s Holiday Program “This entertaining folktale is part of an oral tradition from the Middle East and Central Asia… The colorful and humorously rendered illustrations bring this story to life. A great choice for anyone looking for a fun folktale with a positive message.”
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(BOWN.pdf) THE BOY WITHOUT A NAME Illustrated by Mona Caron When a boy is born, his parents are visited by a wise man who tells them not to name their son. He will give him a name when he is older. This is the story of how the boy seeks and eventually finds his own name and is able to discard an old dream for a new and wonderful one. Among the many insights that this story introduces to children is the idea that it takes patience and resolve to achieve one’s goals in life. Beautiful watercolor illustrations by Mona Caron embellish this unusual story. “...a broader message of peace and happiness ... this is a satisfying bedtime story that will encourage pleasant dreams to drift into little ears.” “The lively and colorful artwork evokes the Middle Eastern setting.”
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(FAWI.pdf) THE FARMER’S WIFE Illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago The cumulative tale of a woman's efforts to retrieve an apple from a hole in the ground. Children will enjoy learning by heart the highly predictable lines. But when a surprise event changes the direction of the tale, their expectations will be jolted in a most amusing way, and they will have learned the tale's valuable lessons about the nature of problem solving and discovery. Rose Mary Santiago’s striking illustrations evoke the story’s origins and, at the same time, add a uniquely playful atmosphere to this funny tale. HONORS AWARD, National Parenting Publications Awards, 1998 “Its pleasantly repetitive language makes it an ideal tool for developing reading readiness and beginning reading skills.”
 FATIMA THE SPINNER AND Illustrated by Natasha Delmar Fatima’s life is beset with what seem to be disasters. Her journey leads her from Morocco to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Turkey and, finally, to China. It is in China that she realizes that what seemed at the time to be really unfortunate events became an integral part of her eventual fulfillment. This Teaching-Story is well known in Greek folklore, but this version is attributed to the Sheikh Mohamed Jamaludin of Adrianople (modern-day Edirne) in Turkey, who died in 1750. Natasha Delmar lives and works in the Bay Area. She is the daughter of the celebrated classic Chinese painter Ng Yi-Ching, who taught her to paint. This is her second Hoopoe book in the series. “This fascinating tale will captivate young readers with its suspenseful plot. Older readers can make connections with their own lives and explore the deeper meanings of the concepts of misfortune, opportunity, and ultimate happiness. The detailed, colorful artwork of Natasha Delmar adds depth and richness to the story. With each reading, children and adults will find new details in the illustrations to appreciate and discuss. In addition, reading the book to and with children provides an excellent opportunity to build their vocabulary and literacy skills while developing their appreciation for good literature.”
 THE LION WHO SAW HIMSELF Illustrated by Ingrid Rodriguez A good-natured lion sees his reflection in a pool and gasps at the fierce creature staring back at him and is too frightened to drink. Children will learn through the lion how to deal positively with fears and inhibitions that so often arise from situations they as yet may not understand. Idries Shah’s collections of Eastern oral and written literature have established the Sufi teaching-story as an educational instrument. The original version of this story was told by the 13th Century Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi. Ingrid Rodriguez has illustrated this tale, bringing the animals to life with warmth and humor. Her illustrations are full of incidental and small details that make her style distinctive. Selected by Michigan Department of Education as part of their statewide R.E.A.D.Y. (Read, Educate and Develop Youth), program designed to make sure children have the necessary pre-reading skills (language, vocabulary, alphabet) by the time they enter school “I remember this story helping me overcome my fear as a child.” “Rodriguez’s illustrations are expansive, jovial, and colorful.”
 THE MAGIC HORSE
Illustrated by Julie Freeman An ancient tale in the tradition of the Arabian Nights, The Magic Horse follows the wondrous adventures of young Prince Tambal. Considered a dreamer in comparison to his brother, Tambal becomes intrigued by a wooden horse dismissed by others as a mere plaything, but is really a finely carved magical horse. Prince Tambal disappears on the magic horse and has many exciting adventures before he finally obtains his heart’s desire and can return home. Beautiful illustrations by Julie Freeman capture the magic of this tale. The images and the text are inset in rich borders of oriental patterns. “...illustrated with jewel-toned, delicate paintings featuring the costumes, tools, buildings, and animals of the Moslem East… The two brothers do not represent good and evil as happens so often in Western tales, but instead merely the choice of two different paths. This unique quality as well as rich art will invite discussions of differences in the characters and meanings of tales across cultures... a welcome addition to traditional literature collections.”
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(FOX.pdf) THE MAN AND THE FOX
Illustrated by Sally Mallam A man tricks a young fox into believing that he will give him a chicken. The fox gets trapped but, through his ingenuity and perseverance, he manages to escape. This story can inspire children to face challenges and to overcome and, sometimes, make use of obstacles in their path. Sally Mallam's illustrations are delightful and imaginative depictions of the characters. “As a teaching story, the tale entertains, reinforces literacy and thinking skills, and sets the stage for deeper reflection on what led to the fox’s imprisonment and what he had to do to escape. Sally Mallam’s lively illustrations are suggestive of the layers of meaning contained in the story: her renderings of the man and the fox are sure to delight young readers, and if they look closely they’ll find a second 'story' in the margins!”
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(MABM.pdf) THE MAN WITH BAD MANNERS
Illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago The first of these Afghan tales to be set in the West, this story is about a badly behaved man and how a young boy initiates a plan to change his behavior and, with the help of all the villagers, succeeds. It will bring laughter to young children and at the same time teach them valuable lessons about conflict resolution, initiative and cooperation. Rose Mary Santiago’s illustrations provide delightful and amusing counterpoint to the story. This is the third book she has illustrated in this series. “A young boy decides to reform an ill-mannered neighbor and finds in himself a newfound skill for resolving conflicts in this warm, inviting story of resolution.”
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(NEHB.pdf) NEEM THE HALF-BOY Illustrated by Midori Mori & Robert Revels Because she fails to follow the precise instructions given to her by Arif the Wise Man, the Queen of Hich-Hich gives birth to a half-boy. That Neem is able to make himself complete by an act of cleverness, negotiation, and compromise teaches children more than the usual expected lesson of bravery. This enchanting tale of Prince Neem, the King and Queen of Hich-Hich, Arif the Wise Man, fairies and a fire-breathing dragon is marvelously and magically illustrated by Midori Mori and Robert Revels. “Shah’s adaptation of this traditional Sufi tale will encourage children to contemplate the meaning of psychological ‘wholeness.’ ”
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THE OLD WOMAN AND THE EAGLE Illustrated by Natasha Delmar In this amusing story, an old woman encounters an eagle for the first time. Perplexed by its unfamiliar appearance, she decides to change it to suit her own ideas of what a bird should look like. Her efforts mirror a common pattern of human thought: altering the unfamiliar to make it acceptable. Natasha Delmar lives and works in the Bay Area.She is the daughter of the celebrated classic Chinese painter Ng Yi-Ching who taught her to paint. “Out of Afghanistan comes this simple Sufi folk story collected by the late, noted Afghan author. In this gloriously illustrated tale, an old woman grooms an eagle to represent what she thinks is a pigeon—the only type of bird with which she is familiar… Delmar’s paintings are beautiful and realistic. The side panels with detailed borders reflect elements of the tale and foreshadow events or reflect the elegant setting. … the classic story, packaged in an elegant design, will be a good addition to every collection.” “Natasha Delmar’s eye-catching color illustrations add a special touch to this wonderful story about learning to be open to new sights and things.” “A fine story of how not to change others ... very highly recommended picturebook story.”
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(SICH.pdf) THE SILLY CHICKEN
Illustrated by Jeff Jackson A delightful and humorous tale about a chicken who learns to speak as we do. What follows will intrigue young children and, at the same time, alert them in a very amusing way to the dangers of being too gullible. This is illustrator/animator Jeff Jackson’s first children’s book. It expresses his unique ability to create a lively and amusing world, rich in color, in which anything can happen. “...this quirky, good-natured fable, with bright, aptly comical pictures, ably illustrates the maxim, it’s important not to believe everything you hear.” “Set in the Middle East, Shah’s retelling of a Sufi story sends a gentle message to readers: just because someone says it’s so, does not make it so…With its simple language and repeating phrases, the story begs to be told, and Jackson’s colorful pastel illustrations lend a zany accent to the antics. It’s a classic case of ‘the sky is falling’ from an ancient culture, and it still has the ring of truth today.” |