These colourful illustrated books each tell a popular folk tale from a different country, matching the English translation against the tale written in its original language. Suitable for early years and primary schools. Each book carries details of the country where the folk tale originated.
Arabic folk stories from Algeria and Iraq
How the Animals Kept the Lion Away (Algeria): Four friends; an old donkey, lame hen, sick goat and skinny dog; co-operate to keep themselves safe from lions. The Man in the Coffin (Iraq): a humorous tale in which two travellers become friends after one scares the other into leaping off a bus, by sheltering from the rain in a coffin.
1998; 56 pages
The Adventures of Nakhodak (Dari and Afghani Pushto)
Nakhodak may be the size of a pea, but she realises that with bravery and cunning you can achieve much.
ISBN: 0 946787 48 4; 2001; 32 pages
Sengilo, Mengilo (Kurdish Kurmanji)
A mother goat saves her three young kids after they are tricked into leaving their hiding place by a hungry wolf.
ISBN: 0 946787 13 1; 1998; 32 pages
The Boy with the Empty Pot (Bosnia)
A lonely King, wishing to adopt a son or daughter, gives every child in the land a seed to grow to help him choose. Only one child does not grow a beautiful flower, and the King knows that this is his heir as the seeds had been cooked.
ISBN: 0 946787 72 7; 1998; 16 pages
The Deceiver (Somalia)
Guure learns that no person can live without the friendship of others, when his lies and tricks get him banished from his village and drive the wild animals he befriends away.
ISBN: 0 946787 57 3; 1998; 32 pages
The Leopardess and Her Cubs (Democratic Republic of Congo)
When a Leopardess needs the animals to protect her cubs , she learns that it is unwise to upset people as they may turn against you when you need their help.
ISBN: 0 946787 52 2 ; 1998; 32 pages
The Three Brothers (Kurdish Sorani)
When an inheritance buried in a cave goes missing, a wise judge identifies the cuplrit by asking the three brothers for their responses to a tale of love and honour.
ISBN: 0 946787 09 3; 2001; 28 pages
The Woodcutter (Tamil)
After losing his axe in the lake, Krishna the woodcutter is offered axes made of gold and silver by a mysterious woman in the water. He declines the axes, accepting only his and is rewarded for his honesty when the mysterious lady proves to be the Goddess of Truth.
ISBN: 0 946787 67 0; 1998; 16pages
