Hoopoe Books Catalog

Teaching-Stories by Idries Shah

The Boy Without a Name
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THE BOY WITHOUT A NAME
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Mona Caron
Bilingual edition: El niño sin nombre, translated by Rita Wirkala
Ages: 5 & up


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”
Booklist

“The lively and colorful artwork evokes the Middle Eastern setting.”
School Library Journal

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The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal
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THE CLEVER BOY AND THE TERRIBLE, DANGEROUS ANIMAL
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago
El muchachito listo y el terrible y peligroso animal, translated by Rita Wirkala
Ages: 3 & up


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 in this series illustrated by her, following the award-winning best seller, 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.”
The School Library Journal

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The Farmer's Wife
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THE FARMER’S WIFE
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago
La esposa del granjero, translated by Angélica Villagrán de Gonzales
Ages: 3 & up


The cumulative tale of a woman's efforts to retrieve an apple from a hole in the ground. Children will enjoy learning the highly predictable lines by heart. 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 its 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.”
—Denise Nessel, Ph.D.,
Consultant and Director of Publications
National Urban Alliance for Effective Education

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Fatima the Spinner and the Tent
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FATIMA THE SPINNER AND THE TENT
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Natasha Delmar
Ages: 5 & up


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.”
—Denise Nessel, Ph.D.,
Consultant and Director of Publications
National Urban Alliance for Effective Education

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Fatima the Spinner and the Tent CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water
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THE LION WHO SAW
HIMSELF IN THE WATER
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Ingrid Rodriguez
El León que se vio en el Agua, translated by Angélica Villagrán de Gonzales
Ages: 3 & up


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.
butterfly

“I remember this story helping me overcome my fear as a child.”
Saira Shah, Journalist. Her documentary films on Afghanistan, Beneath the Veil and Unholy War aired on CNN.

“Rodriguez’s illustrations are expansive, jovial, and colorful.
School Library Journal

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The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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The Magic Horse
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THE MAGIC HORSE
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Julie Freeman
Ages: 7 & up


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.
School Library Journal

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Fatima the Spinner and the Tent CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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The Man and the Fox
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THE MAN AND THE FOX
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Sally Mallam
El hombre y el zorro, translated by Rita Wirkala
Ages: 3 & up


A man tricks a young fox into believing that he will give him a chicken. However, 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 provide 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!”
—Denise Nessel, Ph.D.,
Consultant and Director of Publications
National Urban Alliance for Effective Education

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The Man and the Fox CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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The Man with Bad Manners
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THE MAN WITH BAD MANNERS
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago
El hombre maleducado, translated by Rita Wirkala
Ages: 3 & up


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.”
Children’s Bookwatch

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Neem the Half-Boy
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NEEM THE HALF-BOY
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Midori Mori & Robert Revels
Neem el medio niño, translated by Rita Wirkala
Ages: 3 & up


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 expected, usual 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.’”
Bookbird, A Journal of International Children's Literature

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Neem the Half-boy CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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The Old Woman and the Eagle
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THE OLD WOMAN AND THE EAGLE
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Natasha Delmar
La señora y el águila, translated by Rita Wirkala
Ages: 3 & up


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.”
Kirkus Reviews

“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.”
Midwest Book Review

“A fine story of how not to change others ... very highly recommended picturebook story.”
Children’s Bookwatch The Picturebook Shelf

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Neem the Half-boy CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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The Silly Chicken
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THE SILLY CHICKEN
by Idries Shah

Illustrated by Jeff Jackson
Bilingual edition: El pollo bobo, translated by Rita Wirkala

Ages: 3 & up


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 and 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.”
Booklist

“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”
School Library Journal

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Neem the Half-boy CDThe CD contains two versions of the story, one with page-turn signals and one without.

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All About Me

The All About Me is a series of books to help young people understand themselves and how we all, as a human beings, work. This is fundamental information, but we often forget to teach students about it in school. For example, what psychologists know about how we see, think, and feel, how these abilities work, how they change, grow or get stuck and how reliable they are as we try to make sense of ourselves, our friends, our relatives and the world around us. There is good, solid information readily available and scientifically validated.

The All About Me series provides an all-inclusive program designed to meet the American Psychological Association's National Standards for Psychology at the high school level, the standards established for the College Board AP Psychology course, and the National Board Standards for Science/Adolescent and Young Adulthood. Focused on the mind, each text provides a set of lessons and various activities that teach sophisticated brain research in an accessible and interesting way.

General Editors:

Denise Nessel, Ph.D. An associate of the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA), where she focuses on teaching reading and writing as thinking processes in grades K-12. She has written several books and classroom resources for teachers and a number of articles for professional journals.

Robert Ornstein, Ph.D. Psychologist and author of twenty titles, the most recent of which is MindReal - How the Mind Creates its Own Virtual Reality. Ornstein has won awards from more than a dozen organizations, including the American Psychological Association and UNESCO. His pioneering research on the bilateral specialization of the brain has done much to advance our understanding of how we think. www.robertornstein.com


THE FIRST IN THIS SERIES

ME AND MY MEMORY
Why We Forget Some Things and Remember Others
by Robert Guarino

Illustrated by Jeff Jackson
Foreword by Robert Ornstein, PhD
ISBN: 978-1-933779-64-5   120 pages   
Price: $15.99

This book explores the mystery of our minds and memory. How do we remember? And how do we forget? In it young people will discover all that scientists and researchers know and explore questions yet to be answered.

It is illustrated by a cast of little robots who’ll be the readers’ guides on their journeys through the discussions on memory. Readers will begin to notice how their own and other people’s memories work. They will learn to understand why memory is powerful, but not perfect, and will uncover some strategies for improving their memory.

The curriculum can be used to provide supplemental activities within a high school psychology course, or used as a stand-alone “memory” unit to increase student productivity and improve study behavior in grades 8 through 12.

The book offers a unique perspective for teachers, providing information to help guide their teaching techniques, improve student retention, and ultimately increase student achievement.

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Dende Maro


DENDE MARO: The Golden Prince
By Sally Mallam

Illustrations created from the ancient rock art of Africa
ISBN: 978-1-933779-48-5   40 pages
Price: $17.99

A beautiful tale about how human beings came to learn and develop their arts, language and mathematics and the ability to settle all over the world—to remake the world. A journey that made us human.

Inspired by the ancient rock art of Africa, Sally Mallam illustrates this journey by rearranging and coloring “digital collages” of these original images, recorded in the early to mid-20th century.

The end of the book lists websites and books that may interest readers and a map that shows many of the countries where this ancient art was found.

Praise for Dende Maro

“Dende Maro: The Golden Prince is a wondrous picturebook for children ages 5 and up, inspired by the ancient rock art of Africa. Illustrated with “digital collages” created by rearranging and coloring original images of this ancient rock art, Dende Maro is an original fable about the creation of the world, and the Golden Prince sent to teach the people of the new world how to take care of themselves and each other. ... A delightful and panoramic picturebook reflecting the mystique of Africa's ancient treasures, Dende Maro is highly recommended for parents to share with children during storytime or bedtime.”
Midwest Book Review

“... The digital collage illustrations, done in vivid colors, provide a fresh interpretation of prehistoric African rock art, where familiar symbols have been colored and duplicated to create large colorful images of humans and nature. The text has a relaxed cadence that leads readers to pause and consider what it would be like to have been alive millions of years ago. Dende Maro teaches the people about the land, plants, animals, music, and art, and ‘how to care for all the animals and for each other.’ Younger students may not fully grasp the ideas presented here, but the text and stunning art will convey the sense that humans are connected through nature and art.”
School Library Journal

“Dende Maro is a beautifully told and stunningly illustrated origin tale, inspired by ancient African carvings and paintings. The emphasis on the arts, as well as survival skills, encourages readers to reflect on the importance of music, writing, and visual representation in human life. The list of websites and books at the end encourages further study of art forms that date back thousands of years.”
—Denise Nessel, Ph.D.,
Consultant and Director of Publications
National Urban Alliance for Effective Education

“Grades 2-4, Mallam illustrates this original creation myth with images from African rock paintings that have been scanned, rearranged, and placed against abstract speckled backgrounds. The resulting artwork has a mysterious, almost eldritch air, which suits the tone of the text. In the beginning is a longing that transforms into a wind, which creates a primal form from which all others spring. Eventually that longing also gives birth to a prince who teaches his people not only all the skills needed to live, but also how to dance, count, write, paint, and listen in their / heart to the many / rhythms of the world. Like Marcia Brown’s Caldecott Medal winner, Shadow (1982), this will likely have more appeal to adults; but curious younger viewers should respond to the striking art.”
Booklist - American Library Association

“... a captivating and inspiring book about human origins, designed to connect with very young readers, yet entirely unpretentious despite its huge canvas. Not a word goes to waste in this lyrical but impressively spare depiction of the beginnings of the world, the evolution of animals and people, their gradual migration across the globe and the learning of the essential arts that make us human. ... This book will excite children’s interest in where we came from and how we developed – and stimulate universal yearnings for a better future. It is a brilliant debut work by artist and storyteller, Sally Mallam.”
Human Givens - Promoting Emotional Health and Clear Thinking.
Vol 16, No 3

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