PICTURE BOOKS
♦ $ The King's Fountain by Lloyd Alexander
A man tries to get important message to the king. Middle East setting
♦ $ The Legend of the Persian Carpet by Tomie de Paola
When King Balash's precious diamond is stolen, the grief-stricken king can no longer rule, and the country falls into chaos, until a clever young boy comes up with a scheme to bring the jewel's radiance back into the palace.
♥ $ The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter
A true story in modern day Iraq of a librarian who finds a way to save her books when war breaks out.
A man tries to get important message to the king. Middle East setting
♦ $ The Legend of the Persian Carpet by Tomie de Paola
When King Balash's precious diamond is stolen, the grief-stricken king can no longer rule, and the country falls into chaos, until a clever young boy comes up with a scheme to bring the jewel's radiance back into the palace.
♥ $ The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter
A true story in modern day Iraq of a librarian who finds a way to save her books when war breaks out.
IMAGINATIVE
FC S11-240 The Little Persian
FC S11-245 Dama's Jewels
FC S11-308 The Persian and His Three Sons
FC S11-245 Dama's Jewels
FC S11-308 The Persian and His Three Sons
LEGENDARY/EPIC HEROES
BH 10-228 A Story of Rustem, the Hero of Persia
$ Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman
Illustrated Epic of Gilgamesh for children. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help. In answer, another kind of man, Enkidu, is sent to earth to live among the animals and learn kindness from them. He falls in love with Shamhat, a singer from the temple, and he follows her back to Uruk. There, Enkidu, the “uncivilized” beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human.
$ The Revenge of Ishtar by Ludmila Zeman
Part 2 of the Gilgamesh trilogy. In this second volume in the Gilgamesh trilogy, Enkidu joins Gilgamesh in the quest to slay Humbaba, the monster who has attacked the city and caused great destruction, including the death of the beautiful singer, Shamat. Gilgamesh and Enkidu successfully slay the monster and in so doing, Gilgamesh attracts the attention of the goddess Ishtar. In rejecting her advances, he incurs her revenge and an attack by the Bull of Heaven. Enkidu manages to kill the bull, but is slain by Ishtar, striking at the bond between the two friends. Shattered, Gilgamesh vows he will destroy the last monster: death.
$ The Last Quest of Gilgamesh by Ludmila Zeman
Final book of the Gilgamesh Trilogy. In his final quest, Gilgamesh, still mourning the death of his dear friend Enkidu, sets out to find the key to immortality. His journey is perilous. He must fight ferocious serpents and wild lions. He travels through bitterly cold caves, across scorching deserts, and over the fatal waters of the Sea of Death. Finally he arrives at the palace of Utnapishtim, the only human who knows the secret of immortality. Utnapishtim sets Gilgamesh a test to stay away for six days and seven nights, but Gilgamesh fails. His last hope, a flower of eternal youth, is eaten by the goddess Ishtar, who exacts her revenge. Finally, Enkidu comes from the underworld to show Gilgamesh true immortality: the king will be remembered for his good deeds, courage, and love for his people.
Illustrated Epic of Gilgamesh for children. Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help. In answer, another kind of man, Enkidu, is sent to earth to live among the animals and learn kindness from them. He falls in love with Shamhat, a singer from the temple, and he follows her back to Uruk. There, Enkidu, the “uncivilized” beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human.
$ The Revenge of Ishtar by Ludmila Zeman
Part 2 of the Gilgamesh trilogy. In this second volume in the Gilgamesh trilogy, Enkidu joins Gilgamesh in the quest to slay Humbaba, the monster who has attacked the city and caused great destruction, including the death of the beautiful singer, Shamat. Gilgamesh and Enkidu successfully slay the monster and in so doing, Gilgamesh attracts the attention of the goddess Ishtar. In rejecting her advances, he incurs her revenge and an attack by the Bull of Heaven. Enkidu manages to kill the bull, but is slain by Ishtar, striking at the bond between the two friends. Shattered, Gilgamesh vows he will destroy the last monster: death.
$ The Last Quest of Gilgamesh by Ludmila Zeman
Final book of the Gilgamesh Trilogy. In his final quest, Gilgamesh, still mourning the death of his dear friend Enkidu, sets out to find the key to immortality. His journey is perilous. He must fight ferocious serpents and wild lions. He travels through bitterly cold caves, across scorching deserts, and over the fatal waters of the Sea of Death. Finally he arrives at the palace of Utnapishtim, the only human who knows the secret of immortality. Utnapishtim sets Gilgamesh a test to stay away for six days and seven nights, but Gilgamesh fails. His last hope, a flower of eternal youth, is eaten by the goddess Ishtar, who exacts her revenge. Finally, Enkidu comes from the underworld to show Gilgamesh true immortality: the king will be remembered for his good deeds, courage, and love for his people.
CULTURAL
FC OC6 Persian, Turkey
FC OC18 Norman, Frankish, Saxon, Carthaginian Cousins of Long Ago
FC OC18 Norman, Frankish, Saxon, Carthaginian Cousins of Long Ago
$ Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan by Michael Sullivan
In this photo-essay, Western children are brought face to face with the children of Afghanistan.
♥ Our Little Persian Cousin by E.C. Shedd
In this photo-essay, Western children are brought face to face with the children of Afghanistan.
♥ Our Little Persian Cousin by E.C. Shedd
HISTORICAL
FC S6-178 The Young Cupbearer
FC S11-28 Truth is Mighty and Will Prevail
FC S11-28 Truth is Mighty and Will Prevail
$ Alia's Mission by Mark Stamaty
Another story of the modern day librarian in Iraq who saved the books before the library was destroyed.
♥ Ancient History Told to Children by Susan Lane (1870)
♦ Three Cups of Tea, Young Reader's Edition by Sarah Thomson
Another story of the modern day librarian in Iraq who saved the books before the library was destroyed.
♥ Ancient History Told to Children by Susan Lane (1870)
♦ Three Cups of Tea, Young Reader's Edition by Sarah Thomson
HISTORICAL FICTION
FC S9-19 Story of Darius, the Persian Boy
♦ $ Silent Music by James Rumford
"My name is Ali. I live in Baghdad." When bombs start to fall, inspired by a 13th century calligrapher, Yakut, "I filled my room with pages of calligraphy. I filled my mind with peace." Set in our modern day world.
"My name is Ali. I live in Baghdad." When bombs start to fall, inspired by a 13th century calligrapher, Yakut, "I filled my room with pages of calligraphy. I filled my mind with peace." Set in our modern day world.
BIOGRAPHIES
$ Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson
The true story of one man's journey to improve the world by building schools in Afghanistan. This is aimed at 1st to 3rd graders. For older children, check out the two Three Cups of Tea books. Very inspiring.
$ Malala Yousafzai by Karen Abouraya
Very simple introduction to the story and work of Malala, a young Pakistani woman who stands up and speaks for every child's right to education, even though she sustained a life-threatening injury at the hands of a Taliban gunman.
The true story of one man's journey to improve the world by building schools in Afghanistan. This is aimed at 1st to 3rd graders. For older children, check out the two Three Cups of Tea books. Very inspiring.
$ Malala Yousafzai by Karen Abouraya
Very simple introduction to the story and work of Malala, a young Pakistani woman who stands up and speaks for every child's right to education, even though she sustained a life-threatening injury at the hands of a Taliban gunman.