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Folktales for a Better World: Stories of Peace and Kindness
Seven stories celebrating peace, kindness, and forgiveness from seven countries that have all suffered from wars and conflicts in recent times told by an award-winning author.
Will two clans in Ethiopia make peace by throwing their most precious possessions in the river? Can a poor Palestinian shepherd show a rich sultan the value of true kindness? Or will an angel in Afghanistan find a way to turn the selfish Emir into a caring ruler? Buried treasure and an act of forgiveness reunite a father and daughter in Sudan while a camel is the key to choosing a kind and fair ruler for the kingdom of Yemen. Hear the Syrian story of the woodcutter and the lion to discover the meaning of friendship, and then follow nine courageous Uighur princesses of Kashgar, as they bring peace to their kingdom – without any fighting.
The importance of peace and kindness in our lives shines through these timeless, inspirational stories from seven countries, beautifully told and illustrated with empathy and humor.
Will two clans in Ethiopia make peace by throwing their most precious possessions in the river? Can a poor Palestinian shepherd show a rich sultan the value of true kindness? Or will an angel in Afghanistan find a way to turn the selfish Emir into a caring ruler? Buried treasure and an act of forgiveness reunite a father and daughter in Sudan while a camel is the key to choosing a kind and fair ruler for the kingdom of Yemen. Hear the Syrian story of the woodcutter and the lion to discover the meaning of friendship, and then follow nine courageous Uighur princesses of Kashgar, as they bring peace to their kingdom – without any fighting.
The importance of peace and kindness in our lives shines through these timeless, inspirational stories from seven countries, beautifully told and illustrated with empathy and humor.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published February 14, 2023
About the author
Elizabeth Laird
219 books203 followersLaird was born in New Zealand in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London, where she was educated at Croydon High School.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 7, 2023
In a Nutshell: An excellent collection of positive folktales.
The author states in the foreword that folktales are the ancient wonders of the world. Many of us have grown up reading folktales from various cultures. These stories contain an old-world feel that delivers value and satisfaction beyond time. No wonder then that they are published even today. Here’s one more gem of a folktale anthology available to modern young readers.
As the title indicates, this collection contains “folktales for a better world.” The seven stories in this book are all chosen based on their ideology of promoting peace and kindness and humaneness. It is somewhat ironic if you keep in mind that the tales have been chosen from a few of the most troubled countries of the world - Ethiopia, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria.
We all know that folktales are sometimes quite dark, and sometimes outdated in terms of their inherent misogyny. What I liked most about this collection is that none of the seven stories promoted a patriarchal domination or a weak-woman-needs-man-to-rescue-her mindset. In fact, there were two stories where the woman saves the day. Such a pleasure to see well-chosen folktales that carry an essence of the past but also adhere to the values of the present to ensure a progressive future!
What adds the icing to the cake is the illustrations. They match the folktales in look, charm and appeal.
The official target age for this collection is 5-8 year olds, but a couple of the stories might work better for the older kinds in that range. The vocabulary level is quite easy though.
Overall, I loved all the seven tales in this little collection, and wish it had contained a few more.
Recommended to anyone who enjoys old-fashioned folktales that are relevant even in the modern world.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Interlink Publishing Group Inc and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Folktales for a Better World: Stories of Peace and Kindness”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
The author states in the foreword that folktales are the ancient wonders of the world. Many of us have grown up reading folktales from various cultures. These stories contain an old-world feel that delivers value and satisfaction beyond time. No wonder then that they are published even today. Here’s one more gem of a folktale anthology available to modern young readers.
As the title indicates, this collection contains “folktales for a better world.” The seven stories in this book are all chosen based on their ideology of promoting peace and kindness and humaneness. It is somewhat ironic if you keep in mind that the tales have been chosen from a few of the most troubled countries of the world - Ethiopia, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria.
We all know that folktales are sometimes quite dark, and sometimes outdated in terms of their inherent misogyny. What I liked most about this collection is that none of the seven stories promoted a patriarchal domination or a weak-woman-needs-man-to-rescue-her mindset. In fact, there were two stories where the woman saves the day. Such a pleasure to see well-chosen folktales that carry an essence of the past but also adhere to the values of the present to ensure a progressive future!
What adds the icing to the cake is the illustrations. They match the folktales in look, charm and appeal.
The official target age for this collection is 5-8 year olds, but a couple of the stories might work better for the older kinds in that range. The vocabulary level is quite easy though.
Overall, I loved all the seven tales in this little collection, and wish it had contained a few more.
Recommended to anyone who enjoys old-fashioned folktales that are relevant even in the modern world.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Interlink Publishing Group Inc and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Folktales for a Better World: Stories of Peace and Kindness”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
April 25, 2026
This a book of folktales from lands which are either engulfed in war or repression or have been scared by wars. Hence,these beautiful tales provide an insight into the past of these places when things were peaceful.
The book itself is meant for preteens but should be read by everyone; so that one can look into the past and imagine a peaceful future of countries like Syria,Yemen,Afghanistan etc.
The book itself is meant for preteens but should be read by everyone; so that one can look into the past and imagine a peaceful future of countries like Syria,Yemen,Afghanistan etc.
January 2, 2024
This is a very cool book! So many great stories ❤️ we’ll definitely read this often.
July 8, 2024
The presentation, the tone, the vibe, the seven countries and stories selected, the illustrations and large size really make this book enjoyable. With folktales from Ethopia, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and Uighur from China, some contain Islam and Muslims, and some do not, but the messaging and lessons are for all. Folktales are often used in classroom settings, and I appreciate that this book can be used in bits or all together. Most of the selections are 6-8 pages, but contain large illustrations to help the readers engage with the lessons being conveyed. Having read a few books by the author, I think it is clear that the people represented in this collection is very intentional, and these old stories from the occupied, the oppressed, and the war torn in contemporary times, really show the universal humanity of stories, kindness and peace.
The introduction from the author sets the tone before the stories begin. The Dog Fight from Ethopia is a tale of conflict and perspective and pride. Allah Karim from Sudan is trusting that Allah swt will provide, compassion for the homeless, and charity. From Palestine, the folktale True Kindness shows the value of hospitality. The Next Sultan from Yemen focuses on fairness and justice as does The Emir and the Angel from Afghanistan. From Syria the tale of The Woodcutter and the Lion focuses on friendship and being selfish, and finally The Nine Princesses of Kashgar, a Uighur story from China, shares a story of defending your land against occupiers.
Early elementary kids will enjoy the tales and relate to the lessons, they will get lost in the pictures, and recall the messages long after the book concludesw. This book reminded me of how few folktales I've read outside of teaching, and I look forward to sharing this at bedtime, story times, and gift it to teachers and librarians to do the same.
The introduction from the author sets the tone before the stories begin. The Dog Fight from Ethopia is a tale of conflict and perspective and pride. Allah Karim from Sudan is trusting that Allah swt will provide, compassion for the homeless, and charity. From Palestine, the folktale True Kindness shows the value of hospitality. The Next Sultan from Yemen focuses on fairness and justice as does The Emir and the Angel from Afghanistan. From Syria the tale of The Woodcutter and the Lion focuses on friendship and being selfish, and finally The Nine Princesses of Kashgar, a Uighur story from China, shares a story of defending your land against occupiers.
Early elementary kids will enjoy the tales and relate to the lessons, they will get lost in the pictures, and recall the messages long after the book concludesw. This book reminded me of how few folktales I've read outside of teaching, and I look forward to sharing this at bedtime, story times, and gift it to teachers and librarians to do the same.
August 1, 2024
This was so good and wholesome! It's a series of short bedtime stories from the Muslim world, based on folktales from Yemen, Ethiopia, Sudan, Palestine, Syria, Uyghur China, and Afghanistan. My nine year old brother really enjoyed them, and believe me when I tell you he is hard to please when it comes to stories! Before I read it, I thought he would scoff or roll his eyes at the moral messages...but while reading it myself with him, I found both of us excited as we encountered lots of surprising twists and were always satisfied by the endings filled with justice and good lessons. It's also great for reorienting kids' geospatial and cultural awareness toward Muslim countries rather than the West, especially if the kids grow up in the west and in a eurocentric environment. The illustrations are also gorgeous!
My only word of caution is that the last story, "The 9 Princesses of Kashgar," contains some shirk and values that contradict with Islam, so some parents might choose to skip that. But all the other stories have really good Islamic morals and often mention Allah.
Our favorites were the first two stories, "The Dog Fight" based in Ethiopia and "Allah Karim" based in Sudan. Highly recommend!
My only word of caution is that the last story, "The 9 Princesses of Kashgar," contains some shirk and values that contradict with Islam, so some parents might choose to skip that. But all the other stories have really good Islamic morals and often mention Allah.
Our favorites were the first two stories, "The Dog Fight" based in Ethiopia and "Allah Karim" based in Sudan. Highly recommend!
March 6, 2024
The author brings together stories from seven countries of the traditionally Muslim world, all of which have been ripped apart in modern times by war and invasion. The stories remind us of the timeless wisdom in the understanding of traditional people and point our children’s moral compass toward kindness, compassion, justice, and integrity despite hardship and conflict. The final folktale from the Uighur region of China, which highlights courage, ingenuity, and tenacity, includes mythological rather than Islamic elements.
We rate children's books for virtue, language, story, and beauty and flag content advisories when needed. We read cover to cover so you don’t have to.
Read more at MindfulMuslimReader.com.
“Books Worth Reading”
We rate children's books for virtue, language, story, and beauty and flag content advisories when needed. We read cover to cover so you don’t have to.
Read more at MindfulMuslimReader.com.
“Books Worth Reading”
March 14, 2024
Folktales for a Better World is an anthology of traditional stories from seven countries. In each, compassion and generosity triumph over selfishness and cruelty. Each tale is compelling in its own right, but taken together they present a powerful picture of the good we as a species could achieve if we considered others' needs. While readers familiar with folktale characteristics will roughly know what to expect, Laird and Amini relay them so beautifully that they feel timeless. Folktales for a Better World has staying power.
August 1, 2024
Laird retells seven traditional tales from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. As the subtitle proclaims the themes of peace, kindness and also forgiveness and tolerance of others, come from countries currently suffering from ongoing civil strife and its attendant miseries where these traditional virtues would be most welcome : Ethiopia, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and western China.
The tales are well told in English by Laird and beautifully illustrated by Amini.
The tales are well told in English by Laird and beautifully illustrated by Amini.
December 12, 2022
A short read highlighting the importance of kindness. The illustrations are gorgeous and the messages timeless. 3.5 stars
July 8, 2024
The art is beautifully textured collages.
January 30, 2026
I love folktales and tales of wisdom, breaking down ideas into the simplest of forms and making you think about it ❤️❤️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews