Reviews

PreS-Gr 3-This Middle-Eastern folktale told by Afghan writer Indries Shah tells the story of an old woman who can't accept that things can be different when she meets an eagle and insists that he must be a pigeon because she has never before seen an eagle. The woman then changes the eagle's claws, beak, and tuft so that he will resemble the pigeon. In the end, the bird flies away and returns to looking like an eagle. Beautiful illustrations by Natasha Delmar enhance this interesting tale. The CD consists of three parts: an introduction, the story with and without page-turn signals. The introduction, performed by Richard Fartherly, is a nice tool for parents and teachers as it provides brief background information on teaching stories, the Middle East, and the story of the eagle. There are also tips for parents on sharing this story with their children. Narrator Deb Bluford creates individual personas for each of the characters. The story is read at a nice pace that allows for time to follow along with the words as well as look at the detailed pictures. The addition of traditional music in the background adds authenticity to the tale.-Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Hoopoe Books spans the globe to offer four picture-book-and-CD packages featuring stories from the Sufi tradition adapted to Western culture by Afghani author Indries Shah. A roster of talented narrators serves up vibrant, often buttery-toned readings of these entertaining fables. Titles contain an educational introduction, narration with page-turn signals (and without signals), and all are available in Spanish and English, as well as hardcover and paperback. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.