Folktales from the Arabian Peninsula: Tales of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, and Yemen

by Nadia Jameel Taibah, Nadia J Taibah

A unique compilation of stories, "Folktales from the Arabian Peninsula" includes tales from seven countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Coauthored by a renowned folklorist and a professor of education who recalls some of these poignant tales from her own childhood, the book opens with a discussion of the Arabian Peninsula that introduces each country and discusses its terrain, peoples, and current situation to provide important background information. The engaging stories that follow will serve elementary, junior high, and high school librarians as well as public librarians, professional storytellers, and folklorists. The tales themselves--many of which have never been published in English language children's collections--are appropriate for readers grades five and up.

146 pages, Hardcover

First published November 13, 2015

Reviews

[Sonali Patel · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I expected stories full of myths and happy endings. And if not happy at least stories with some moral to impart. In short I was expecting Arabian Panchtantra. But I am disappointed as some of these stories are creepy. Some reeks misogyny and some are simple children’s tale which we have read here and there. For example in one story a handsome youth wins a beautiful princess’s heart and steals her only to gift her to his old ugly uncle and he suffers no consequences of his actions. It was simply acceptable. Yukkie.

[Gergana Georgieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading it with the idea of understanding the Arabic mindset - learning the stories that everyone on the peninsula hears as a kid. I managed to do that through this book. However, the level of English was sometimes disturbingly bad and one could easily get lost in translation.

[Krissy Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of these folktales felt like they could have been folk tales from other parts of the world too; conversely some of them went right over my head because of the specificity of the cultural elements/lessons. Very short stories, quick read. I read it to get more acquainted with Arabic culture.