Middle East Fiction

Mama Shamsi is off to the market, and today, Samira gets to go with her! Samira loves spending time with her grandmother, and she especially loves her chador, which Mama Shamsi wraps around herself every time they leave the house. As the pair get closer and closer to the market, Samira is worried about getting lost in the crowded streets of Tehran, until she has an idea: She can hide under her grandmother's chador.

Discover the endless fascination of ancient Arabian culture with six ancient tales we selected for you for their power of evocation, wisdom and humor. These stories are from the "Arabian Nights", also known as "One Thousand and One Nights", which is a collection of much more ancient folk tales, fairy tales and poems collected over the centuries. They come from ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Mesopotamian, Indian, and Egyptian folklore and literature. This makes "The Arabian Nights" a priceless treasure, as it takes us to the very roots of humanity's cultural treasures in a delightful and passionate way.

A grandma and her little grandson take a walk along a Tel-Aviv street and encounter the conductor and musicians of the Israel Philharmonic gathering for their first performance. This beautiful book is based on the true story of the creation of the Israel Philharmonic just after the birth of the State of Israel.

Two neighbors - one Jewish, one Muslim - have always been best friends. When they both fall on hard times, can they find a way to help each other? In Fawzia Gilani's retelling of this folktale - which has both Jewish and Arab origins - differences are not always causes for conflict and friendship can overcome any obstacle.

Daniel likes to do things backward and upside down. He walks on his hands, walks backward, and eats cereal for dinner. His teacher reminds him that when he visits the prime minister's office, he must be on his best behavior. But when something unexpected happens, can Daniel resist his urge to do a headstand?

Of all the stray cats in Israel, a kitten sits high in a tree above girders, beams, cement mixers, and cranes. Avi wants to adopt the friendly kitten although his mom - and the family dog - don't like the idea. But every day the clever cat comes back, becoming a family's "forever cat"!

Engineer Arielle drives a train in Jerusalem, just like her great-great-grandfather, Engineer Ari. Except she drives a light rail train, and today is a special day. It's Israel's Independence Day! Arielle works all day taking people to their holiday destinations - but how will Arielle celebrate? Her brother Ezra, a pilot in the Israeli Air Force, has something special in mind.

It’s Rashin’s first day of school in America! Everything is a different shape than what she’s used to: from the foods on her breakfast plate to the letters in the books! And the kids’ families are from all over! The new teacher asks each child to imagine the shape of home on a map. Rashin knows right away what she’ll say: Iran looks like a cat! What will the other kids say?

Aladdin is a young lad dwelling in ancient China; his parents are in despair, as he is a never-do-well and won't ever do anything. A sorcerer from the Maghreb persuades him to retrieve a wonderful oil lamp from a magic cave. But then, the socerer attempts to double-cross Aladdin, who resists only to find himself trapped in the cave. Luckily, he has kept the magical object and a world of adventures opens before him.

After trying on a long, bright, and colorful dress, Petra finds herself in Jordan where she meets Fatima. Together they explore the ancient city of Petra.

Ali Baba is a poor woodcutter who discovers the secret of a thieves' den, entered with the phrase "Open Sesame". The thieves learn this and try to kill Ali Baba, but Ali Baba's faithful slave-girl foils their plots. Ali Baba gives his son to her in marriage and keeps the secret of the treasure. This story is included in many versions of the "One Thousand and One Nights". It is one of the most familiar of the "Arabian Nights" tales.

Once upon a time, there lived a Sultan in the land of Persia, who had two beautiful children who grew up to be the Prince and Princess of Persia. One day during a celebration, an Indian approached the Sultan about an enchanted horse he owned that would take the Sultan anywhere he wished in a very short period of time. The Sultan, doubtful about the contraption, sent his son to investigate this horse. When the Prince mounted the horse, he quickly pressed the button that took him high into the air. Wishing to see the country of Bengal because he had never been there, he directed the horse towards that kingdom. He arrived in the dead of the night and landed directly over the Princess of Bengal's chambers at the palace.

Ali Baba est un pauvre homme. Un jour, alors qu'Ali coupe du bois, il entend des voix : il se cache derrière un buisson où il entend le chef des quarante voleurs prononcer la formule magique...

Au temps où les tapis volaient, où les génies restaient prisonniers de lampes à huile, où des monstres géants, des sirènes peuplaient les mers.

When a migrating stork gets tangled in a net in the fish ponds on Maya’s kibbutz, Maya wonders what to do. Can she and her father find a way to nurse it back to health and send it back into the wild? Set in Israel, one of the bird capitals of the world with the highest number of migrating birds anywhere, this story brings the beauty of nature in Israel to life and highlights an unusual part of Israeli life - the kibbutz.

Michel Galabru raconte la fameuse histoire d'Ali Baba qui par hasard, entend le chef des quarante voleurs prononcer la formule magique qui permet d'ouvrir une porte dans la roche...

Aladin est le fils d'un pauvre tailleur appelé Mustapha. Il va au centre de la terre chercher une lampe magique qui renferme un génie qui a le pouvoir d'exaucer les vœux. Un jour il s'éprend d'une princesse.

Israeli Independence Day is coming up and the mayor is planning a celebration. He asks Shmulik to make a mural in the park, and Shmulik agrees. But he can't decide what to paint! Maybe his dog, Ezra, can help!

New York City's Israel Parade is extra special this year for 'timid and small' Meg Goldberg. This shy little girl with a big imagination finds plenty of ways to join the fun - and maybe, just maybe, earn the grand marshal's crown.

Un jour, un homme se voit offrir une malle par son ami. Comme il n'a rien à mettre dedans il s'y met lui-même, et la malle s'envole et l'emmène en Turquie.