Arabic: Al Salwa Series

This is my Dad” is about the special relationship between a father and his child. It reflects the important role that a father plays in caring for and bringing up his offspring. In very few and simple words a little girl starts the story by mentioning animal fathers that look after their offspring. A penguin, a sea horse and a Marmaroun monkey. She then talks about her special relationship with her Dad, who is with her from the day she was born. This story reflects an atypical view of the Father role in our culture. It shows that a Dad’s role is not just about being a breadwinner, but how he also plays an important role in his children’s daily life. Hatha Howa

Children of today love monsters. The media introduces children from an early age to an array of monsters from different cultures. The Ghoul story offers children a story about a monster from their own culture. The villagers are afraid of the “Ghoul”. They spend their life tiptoeing around the village afraid to disturb it. The reasons given are that this monster very different from us in looks and is believed to eat humans. One day the brave Hassan decides to investigate the matter and finds out that the Ghoul is just as scared of humans and for exactly the same reasons. Parents and teachers can use this story to discuss fear, reality versus fantasy, and understanding and accepting differences.

Written by: Taghreed Najjar, Illustrated by: Jurg Obrist, Zaina does not like to go to bed on her own. To make her mother stay with her she finds one excuse after another.” Sleep Zaina Sleep” is a story about the vivid imagination of kids and the magic of dreams that can sometimes transform everyday objects into scary things. We may wonder, be scared or amazed at our dreams but it is comforting and reassuring to know that all wondrous things are in dreams.