TITLE: Arabic Folktales for Children
AUTHOR: Hadil Ghoneim
PUBLISHER: Tuttle
ISBN: 978-0804858076
PODCAST EPISODE: None
REVIEWER: Mark Norman
Arabic Folktales for Children is another in a series of beautifully presented bilingual books for children from Tuttle Publishing, who specialize in works from the Asian cultures in particular. In this case, eight stories from the Arab world are retold by the award winning children's author Hadil Ghoneim. Among these is one, 'The Little Woman' which has a long heritage of oral telling but which, to the best of the publisher's knowledge, has never been recorded in print.
Ghoneim has used many and various older sources to mine for information as to the different structures and tellings of these tales, and then sets her chosen titles down in short and easy to understand formats which will entertain children whilst retaining the original intent and teaching of the stories themselves.
Two aspects, perhaps, set this and other books in this series apart from some other similar titles. One is the opening of the book. Before getting into the stories themselves, a short letter designed for teachers or adult family members unpicks some of the culture and history behind the tales, giving knowledge which can enhance the telling and understanding of the tales. The other is the fact that the book comes with an accompanying code to be able to access oral tellings of the stories online, allowing children (and older readers) to be able to follow along with the text.
Tuttle's books are always beautifully presented and this one is no exception. Arabic Folktales is illustrated by Ayah Khamis who, like the author, has been recognised in the world of Arabic Children's Literature. The two have collaborated before, and there is a real synergy between words and pictures in this book. Khamis's illustrations are wonderfully characterful and bring out the meaning of the stories and the feelings of the characters perfectly.
It is always a real joy to receive books from Tuttle, and their catalogue is well worth exploring. Once again, Arabic Folktales for Children does not disappoint.
AUTHOR: Hadil Ghoneim
PUBLISHER: Tuttle
ISBN: 978-0804858076
PODCAST EPISODE: None
REVIEWER: Mark Norman
Arabic Folktales for Children is another in a series of beautifully presented bilingual books for children from Tuttle Publishing, who specialize in works from the Asian cultures in particular. In this case, eight stories from the Arab world are retold by the award winning children's author Hadil Ghoneim. Among these is one, 'The Little Woman' which has a long heritage of oral telling but which, to the best of the publisher's knowledge, has never been recorded in print.
Ghoneim has used many and various older sources to mine for information as to the different structures and tellings of these tales, and then sets her chosen titles down in short and easy to understand formats which will entertain children whilst retaining the original intent and teaching of the stories themselves.
Two aspects, perhaps, set this and other books in this series apart from some other similar titles. One is the opening of the book. Before getting into the stories themselves, a short letter designed for teachers or adult family members unpicks some of the culture and history behind the tales, giving knowledge which can enhance the telling and understanding of the tales. The other is the fact that the book comes with an accompanying code to be able to access oral tellings of the stories online, allowing children (and older readers) to be able to follow along with the text.
Tuttle's books are always beautifully presented and this one is no exception. Arabic Folktales is illustrated by Ayah Khamis who, like the author, has been recognised in the world of Arabic Children's Literature. The two have collaborated before, and there is a real synergy between words and pictures in this book. Khamis's illustrations are wonderfully characterful and bring out the meaning of the stories and the feelings of the characters perfectly.
It is always a real joy to receive books from Tuttle, and their catalogue is well worth exploring. Once again, Arabic Folktales for Children does not disappoint.