Title: Hosni the Dreamer: An Arabian Tale
Author: Ehud Ben-Ezer
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), September 30, 1997
Ages: 4 – 8
Themes/Topics: Multicultural Folktale, Desert, Shepherd, Dreams, Arabia
Summary:
Hosni is a shepherd who has always wanted to see the city across the desert. One day the sheik he works for asks Hosni to make the journey with him and other shepherds to sell his camels. Each shepherd is given one gold dinar, and Hosni spends his on a piece of wisdom. Everyone laughs at Hosni for squandering his small fortune, but his purchase soon saves his life--and changes it forever.
Resources:
1) A class discussion on times when someone had given us advice and we did not take it.
2) Partner up and make up our own fortunes
3) Have students research the Arabian Peninsula. Find pictures of deserts, camels and nomad and make a collage.
3) Coloring Pages: Camel, Caravan, Camel in desert
Why I like the book:
Here is another folktale that comes from the Arabian Peninsula. While this type of story has been done before, quite a lot actually, the lone dreamer, the wise fool who outsmarts everyone else, Ben-Ezer does a great job making this tale unique and fresh. The illustrator does a wonderful job creating the arid dry desert scenes and vibrant desert marketplace.
Another lovely multicultural folk tale for us, Saba. I reminds me strongly of Paolo Coehlo's The Alchemist.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great story, Saba. I love folk tales! I see you wrote your review in PPB format. If I remember, I'll add it to the list :)
ReplyDeleteCool Susanna. I really like the format so I decided to stick with it even for the April challenge. :) I have even adopted the format for my other blog!
ReplyDeleteI love these unique books that you share - ones that many of us would probably never know of otherwise. Thank you for spreading the word about them.
ReplyDelete