Picture books- Middle East
The Camel Beauty Contest
by Marilyn Sheffield
Illustrated by Joanne Mendelski
From the Publishers:
Kamilla the camel is entered into a beauty contest by her owner. At the contest she finds many beautiful camels. She thinks they are more beautiful than she is but the judge is not only looking for abeautiful face, but also a beautiful personality. Has Kamilla got what it takes to win...?
Afghanistan
Afghanistan Pup
By Goodreads
An abandoned pup.
An Afghani schoolgirl.
An Australian soldier.
A story of unexpected friendship, sacrifice and finding hope in the most difficult of situations.
The Roses in my Carpet
KIRKUS REVIEW
A young refugee boy from Afghanistan struggles toward adulthood in a compassionate tale from Khan (Bedtime B-a-a- a-lk, p. 896) about the healing of the human spirit. At the mud house in the refugee camp, the nameless narrator’s days consist mainly of work, school, prayers, and sharing what little there is to eat. He has nightmares of war, and is learning the skill of carpet-weaving, from which he hopes to someday derive a living for his family; with his father dead, the boy is embarrassed to admit that he accepts minimal aid from an unseen sponsor. In his graceful narrative, he names the colors he works with: “White for the shroud we wrapped my father’s body in. Black is for the night that cloaks us from enemy eyes. Green is the color of life. Blue is the sky. One day it will be free of jets.” Leaden skies and mud-colored walls contrast with the bright colors of the carpet; Himler’s watercolor and pencil drawings, spare as the text, build poignantly to a portrait of a life. After the news comes that his sister, hospitalized with broken legs, will heal, the boy’s dreams turn; the roses he is weaving into a carpet appear in his vision of a future “where the bombs cannot touch us.” (Picture book. 6-9)
The Sky of Afghanistan
From Cracking the Cover
The future of a country is looked at through a child’s eyes in “The Sky of Afghanistan.” Though her country is in a state of unrest, the young Afghan girl allows herself to look at the sky and let her imagination soar. Her dreams fly like a kite, high into the sky, toward the stars.
The girl’s dreams soon take wing and spread to all the different regions, entering the homes and hearts of everyone. The dreams can be seen in the smiles of children. The girl believes that the sound of war can be banished forever and that the future will be built on foundations of hope.
“The Sky of Afghanistan” celebrates ideas of unity and peace. The creation of a place where innocent people can live in harmony and without fear. It’s a beautiful sentiment and a beautiful book.
Ana A. de Eulate’s prose is poignantly lyrical. Her sophisticated style is warm and welcoming, as are Sonja Winter’s illustrations. Her eye-catching lines and stylized depictions are masterfully rendered. Her use of light — stunning.
“The Sky of Afghanistan” depicts both conflict and the desire for peace at a level young child can understand. It’s a fine addition to any collection.
Ziba Came on a Boat
'Ziba came on a boat. A soggy old fishing boat that creaked and moaned as it rose and fell, rose and fell, across an endless sea.
Even while Ziba is travelling to another place, she remembers her home – playing, eating and working.
She remembers her father telling stories and poems of long ago.
And she remembers gunfire and running away.
Her dream is full of welcoming, smiling people.
And her mother hopes for freedom as their boat 'rose and fell, rose and fell, across an endless sea …'
This is a story of refugees for young readers.
Iran
Ali the Bold Heart
Ali is a magician. Life in Ali's own country becomes dangerous so he travels to a new land that he thinks will be safer. There, he is locked up in a place surrounded by wire as sharp as tiger's teeth. Ali entertains others in the camp with his magic. Everyone is amazed. One evening Ali is left alone in the grounds. He looks up at the tiger's-teeth wire and walls. Can Ali's magic bring him a better life?
This book is based on the true story of an Iranian refugee, who performed as a magician in his own country.
Auhtor's website
Iraq
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
by Jeannette Winter
From Goodreads.com
Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books. Until now. Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library--along with the thirty thousand books within it--will be destroyed forever.
In a war-stricken country where civilians--especially women--have little power, this true story about a librarian's struggle to save her community's priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the world, the love of literature and the respect
for knowledge know no boundaries. Ages 4-8
Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes
by Kelly Milner Halls and Major William Sumner
From Goodreads.com
The baghdad zoo was once home to more than six hundred magnificent animals. But after the war in Iraq began in 2003, the city faced widespread destruction. When U. S. Army Captain William Sumner was asked to check out the state of the zoo, he found that it, too, was devastated. Hundreds of animals were missing, and the few remaining were in desperate need of care. And so Captain Sumner accepted
a new mission. Together with an international team of zoologists, veterinarians, conservationists, and dedicated animal lovers, Captain Sumner worked tirelessly to save the neglected—but tenacious—animals of Baghdad. Saving the Baghdad Zoo tells the poignant stories of these remarkable animals. Meet the abandoned lions who roamed an empty palace with no food or drink; the camel, Lumpy, who survived transport through sniper fire; the tigers, Riley and Hope, who traveled 7,000 miles from home; and many more. The Baghdad Zoo, open once again to the people of Iraq, has become an oasis of hope and safety in a city where both are precious gifts. Ages 9 - 12
Silent Music
From Booklist
“My name is Ali. I live in Baghdad.” In just a few lines per page, a young Iraqi boy describes his favorite things: soccer, loud “parent-rattling” music, dancing, and, most of all, Arabic calligraphy: “I love to make the ink flow . . . stopping and starting,
gliding and sweeping, leaping, dancing to the silent music in my head.” When bombs fall on the city, Ali, inspired by his hero, Yakut, a thirteenth-century calligrapher, calms himself with his pen: “I filled my room with pages of calligraphy. I filled my mind with peace.” Rumford, who has included Arabic calligraphy in previous titles, such as Calabash Cat and His Amazing Journey (2003), fills his multimedia collages with large, looping script that spells out the words and phrases that Ali writes. Many children will have questions about Arabic writing and where the individual letters stop and start, but they’ll connect with Ali’s first-person voice, which echoes the calligraphy’s graceful rhythm and tells a simple, powerful story about a child’s everyday survival and hope in wartime Baghdad. Grades 1-3. --Gillian Engberg Ages 4 – 8
Pakistan
Every Day is Malala Day
By Rosemary McCarney
This is a letter, illustrated with beautiful photographs, to the girl who stood up to the Taliban and continues to inspire people all around the world. 'Dear Malala, we have never met before, but I feel like I know you.' Malala Yousafzai is an inspiration. A young girl living in Pakistan, she was shot by the Taliban simply because she wanted to go to school. Since that moment, she has captured the attention of the world with her bravery, becoming a voice for the rights of girls everywhere. This is a letter to Malala, illustrated with beautiful photographs. Girls from around the world expressed their sympathy, sisterhood, and admiration for her. Many of them know first hand the barriers that stand in the way of girls going to school, barriers like poverty, discrimination and violence. In Malala these girls recognise a leader, a champion and a friend.
Four Feet, Two Shoes
by Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka
From Amazon
"When relief workers bring used clothing to a refugee camp in Pakistan, ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly - until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one. As they go about their rountines - washing clothes in the river, waiting in line for water, and watching for their names to appear on the list to go to America - the girls discover the true meaning of friendship and sacrifice. This book honors the experiences of refugee children around the world, whose daily existence is marked by uncertainty and fear. Warm colors and bold brush strokes are the perfect complement to this story of courage and hope."
Ages 7-10
Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr Greg and Three Cups of Tea
By Amazon
Greg Mortenson stumbled, lost and delirious, into a remote Himalayan village after a failed climb up K2. The villagers saved his life, and he vowed to return and build them a school. The remarkable story of his promise kept is now perfect for reading aloud. Told in the voice of Korphe’s children, this story illuminates the humanity and culture of a relevant and distant part of the world in gorgeous collage, while sharing a riveting example of how one person can change thousands of lives.
Yardil
The tale of an unusual relationship between Shazia, a young girl of the Kalasha people of Pakistan, and a special snow leopard is simply yet beautifully told. This picture book spells out an elaborate visual sequence. It begins with the warm glow of a fire reflected on rosy human skin, which gives way to a dramatic sweep in black and white charcoal to represent the harshness of winter. When the story finally comes full circle, the illustrator again includes touches of red and orange as the tale happily concludes. This could be a useful resource for studying other cultures. S. Taylor
Palestine
Sitti's Secrets
by Naomi Shihab-Nye Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
http://www.bernadettesimpson.com
Mona's grandmother, her Sitti, lives in a small Palestinian village on the other side of the earth. Once, Mona went to visit her. They couldn't speak each other's language, so they made up their own. They learned about each other's world's, and they discovered each other's secrets. Then it was time for Mona to go back home, back to the other side of the earth. But even though there were millions of miles and millions of people between them, they remained true neighbors forever. Ages 4 - 8
Saudi Arabia
A is for Arabia
by Julia Johnson Illustrated by Emily Styles
From the Publisher
This is a journey through Arabia from A to Z, accompanied along the way by charming illustrations and witty rhymes. It gently introduces children to life in Arabia with pictures and words. This is a perfect gift for any child between the
ages of four and eight, or as a picture book for young children learning the alphabet for the first time Ages 4-8
Fishcakes and Jelly
by Una Rawlinson
From the Publishers:
Have you ever been invited, To a party under the sea? Have you ever had fishcakes and jelly for tea? Meet my friends the dolphin
dugong and whale,
And see my legs change Into a mermaid’s tail....
Delightfully illustrated, this children’s book is a warm and fun-filled tale which revels in the marine life which aboundant in the Arabian Sea.
A Gift of the Sands
by Julia Johnson Illustrated by Emily Styles
From Goodreads.com
A beautiful pearl decides it must be the finest in the whole world, and is impatient to be taken to the Sultan. But it is in for a few surprises!
Follow the pearl's adventures from the moment when it first sees daylight, through town and country and finally into the desert, where it discovers its destiny. This delightful tale gives children an insight into life in the Arabian Gulf, and the engaging
watercolor illustrations bring the story to life. Ages 9-12
Audio
How Many Donkeys: An Arabic Counting Tale
Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald and Nadia Jamil Taibah
From School Library Journal
In this Saudi folktale, Jouha loads ten donkeys with dates to sell at the market. As he rides along, he counts nine and believes one is lost. Yet when he walks, he counts all ten and is grateful that the missing donkey is back.
Alternately lucky and unlucky, depending on whether he walks or rides, Jouha sells his dates and returns home with all of his donkeys. Arabic numbers from one to ten are written from right to left at the bottom of the pages, both in Arabic and in English transliteration, and invite youngsters to count along with the silly date merchant. (Readers can listen to Taibah pronounce these numbers on MacDonald's Web site.) Full-color paintings expand the repetitive text, tracing the journey of ten distinctly different donkeys across the desert landscape and indicating the passage of time with the position of the sun, the color of the sky, and the size of the shadows underneath the donkeys. In an opening note, MacDonald documents the many variants of this folktale, including Denys Johnson-Davies's Goha the Wise Fool (Philomel, 2005), which is set in Egypt. For those libraries with large folklore collections or those looking for unusual counting books.
Ages 4-8
One Humpy Grumpy Camel
by Julia Johnson Illustrated by Emily Styles
From Goodreads.com
This delightful children s number rhyme tells of a camel that keeps coming across larger and larger numbers of desert dwellers, until finally he finds himself gathered with them at a wedding feast. Ages 4-8
Saluki: Hound of the Bedouin
From Goodreads.com
Julia Johnson 's latest collaboration with the watercolorist SusanKeeble is a captivating story of a Bedouin boy, Hamad, and his Saluki hound Sougha (the Gifted One).It recounts their mutual devotion and the adventures they share on Hamad 's journey to adulthood. Julia Johnson has done much to keep alive the stories of the Bedouin and their way of life and to bring them to a younger readership in Arabia and throughout the world. Saluki, Hound of the Bedouin, is, as always, thoroughly researched, and accurately and sensitively illustrated by Susan Keeble. Children between 6 and 11 will delight in this tale of life in the desert--a life of hunting and herding, of hardship and its rewards, of the hazards of death and of the bond between man and beast. All lovers of the Saluki will take pleasure in this tribute to a noble breed, offered here to a new generation. Ages 4-8
United Arab Emirates
Elvis the Camel
by Barbara Devine
Illustrated by Patricia Al-Fakhri
From Amazon.com
Elvis the Camel is the true story of a young camel whose blissful life in the safety of his mother's love and his herd's protection is rudely shattered when he is hit by a truck late one night. Cold and alone, his hip broken, he lies by the side of the road
and trembles with fear. But as the day dawns he is found by a compassionate mother and her three children who gently take him to the camel track. There they find Yousef, the camel doctor. Against the odds and with skill and patience, Yousef and the children nurse Elvis "the Pelvis" back to health and return him to the bosom of his family. The heartwarming story of Elvis the Camel is told by Barbara Devine and illustrated with delicate yet vivid watercolors by Patricia Al Fakhri It is a story that will charm and delight. Ages 4-8
Fizza the Flamingo
by Marilyn Sheffield
Illustrated by Patricia Al-Fakhri
From the Publishers:
When Fizza the Flamingo ventures out from her home on the salt flats in search of a
little peace and quiet, she has no idea what she may encounter. She flies up into the mountains of Abu Dhabi and beyond until she comes to a vast red desert. Though she makes many interesting friends along the way, including Jamal the black camel, she soon finds herself rather lost. Luckily, she sees Jamal again, and follows him back to safety. Ages 4-8
Humph's Travel: In the United Arab Emirates
by Chrissie Jenkins
From the Publishers:
Humph is a cute little camel from the United Arab Emirates, who decides to explore his own country. He finds a wonderful land full of amazing places, buildings and projects. Humph has many escapades with his new friends; everything from dune driving to
running in a camel race. Read more to find out all about his trip around the Emirates and you will find lots of interesting information too!
This is the first in a series of books on Humph’s Travels; he soon goes international! Look out for them and learn about many new countries with Humph.
The Sifrah Glider
by Ahmad Addul Ghani Illustrated by Joanne Mendelski
From the Publishers:
A class of children is in for a treat when their class guest turns out to be an Emirati man who teaches them about his traditional dress and the significance behind each item. Told with a great sense of fun, and amusingly illustrated.
Yerong Creek PS
Email: yerongck-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Location: Cole St, Yerong Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Phone: 02 69203521